Towards a Narrative of Sustainability, Genetic Engineering, Responsibility and Technological Pragmatism

Abstract

The guiding thesis for this book is that out of the narrative crisis created by the conflicting optimistic and pessimistic philosophies of technology, a new narrative of sustainability is emerging. In this final chapter I argue that the recent development of planetary boundary theory marks a major advance in fulfilling the duty of comparative futurology, and that it provides a context for evaluating genetic engineering in agriculture. In very broad terms, these three elements, an ethics of responsibility, planetary boundary theory, and a pragmatic philosophy of technology, can make significant contributions in building a narrative of sustainability. The chapter concludes by placing advances in agricultural biotechnology within the context of a precautionary ethics and comparative futurology, as exemplified by planetary boundary theory. Given that the earth’s population is predicted to grow to more than 10 billion people over the next century while global environmental problems like climate change intensify, it seems difficult to imagine we can fulfill our duties to future generations without innovations like genetic engineering in agriculture. However, if emerging technologies are going to help create a more just and sustainable future, we must move beyond the conflict between the progressive and pessimistic narratives and continued to construct a narrative of sustainability.