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There's nothing wrong with designer babies

Medical science promises a future in which it will be possible to prevent children being born with many of the diseases that currently afflict humanity. In many cases a child could be protected by refining its genetic structure at the earliest stage of life. At the same time, it is possible to select other attributes—gender, height, eye colour, etc—thus recasting the odds in the ‘lottery of life’. To some this will sound like progress. Others will be appalled—seeing this as further evidence of humanity’s arrogant assumption that it can stand above either God or Nature. Are ‘designer babies’ a boon to humankind—the product of human ingenuity applied for the common good? Or should human life remain a source of wonder—where we accept and cherish what we receive rather than shape the gift to order?

Speakers

Speakers to be announced.

Chair:

Dr Simon Longstaff has a PhD in Philosophy from Cambridge. Prior to becoming the inaugural Executive Director of St James Ethics Centre in 1991, Dr Longstaff worked in the Northern Territory in the Safety Department of BHP subsidiary, GEMCO, lectured at Cambridge University and consulted to the Cambridge Commonwealth and Overseas Trusts. His book Hard Cases, Tough Choices was published in 1997. Dr Longstaff was inaugural President of the Australian Association for Professional & Applied Ethics and is a Fellow of the World Economic Forum. He is Chairman of Woolworths Limited Corporate Responsibility Panel and AMP Capital Socially Responsible Investment Advisory Committee and serves as Member on a number of Board Committees.