Genetic Enhancement and Procreative Autonomy

David Archard

doi:10.2202/1941-6008.1004

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Genetic Enhancement and Procreative Autonomy

David Archard

Published/Copyright: January 3, 2008

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From the journal Studies in Ethics, Law, and Technology Volume 1 Issue 1

Liberal eugenics according to one version is distinguished from authoritarian eugenics on the basis that the choice of enhancement is devolved to parents. The argument for liberal eugenics combines a commitment to the right of parents to autonomy – in reproductive decisions and in the upbringing of children – and a parity claim that there is no morally significant difference between ante-natal and post-natal alterations of a child. The article reviews the putative constraints on parental choice, and assesses some criticisms of the parity claim. It concludes that a liberal commitment to social justice is in tension with a liberal commitment to parental choice, but judges that the former commitment does not entail the authoritarian eugenics which is represented as the alternative to liberal eugenics.

Keywords: liberal eugenics; authoritarian eugenics; neutrality; reproductive liberty; harm; parity claim; social justice

Published Online: 2008-1-3

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https://doi.org/10.2202/1941-6008.1004

Keywords for this article

liberal eugenics; authoritarian eugenics; neutrality; reproductive liberty; harm; parity claim; social justice