Biologically Modified Justice

Description

Theories of distributive justice tend to focus on the issue of what constitutes a fair division of 'external' goods and opportunities; things like wealth and income, opportunities for education and basic liberties and rights. However, rapid advances in the biomedical sciences have ushered in a new era, one where the 'genetic lottery of life' can be directly influenced by humans in ways that would have been considered science fiction only a few decades ago. How should theories of justice be modified to take seriously the prospect of new biotechnologies, especially given the health challenges posed by global aging? Colin Farrelly addresses a host of topics, ranging from gene therapy and preimplantation genetic diagnosis, to an 'anti-aging' intervention and the creation and evolution of patriarchy. This book aims to foster the interdisciplinary dialogue needed to ensure we think rationally and cogently about science and science policy in the twenty-first century. Cover Half-title Title page Copyright information Dedication Epigraph Table of contents List of figures Preface Introduction 1 The genetic revolution Part I The duty to aid in an ageing world 2 Empirical ethics and Singer’s principle of preventing bad occurrences Introduction The duty to aid: an operational level analysis Probable harms The probability of success The benefits matter Saving drowning children and drowning grandparents 3 The duty to extend the biological warranty period Introduction Essential vs potential lifespan The duty to aid viewed through the lens of biogerontology Two objections Is age retardation a reasonable aspiration? Conclusion 4 Equality and the duty to retard human ageing Introduction Daniels on equality and just health care Dworkin and equality of resources Conclusion 5 Framing the inborn ageing process and longevity science Introduction Tackling new questions Moving beyond the evolutionary ‘status quo’ Thinking rationally in the face of pervasive risk Basic ‘framing’: risk and the availability heuristic Evolution and proximate and ultimate causes The valuation stage: losses versus gains Conclusion Part II Genetic justice 6 Science and justice Introduction The place of science within the ‘basic structure’ of society The primacy of the individual and the availability heuristic Closed impartiality Primary goods Conclusion 7 Genetic justice and the limitations of formulating distributive ‘ideals’ Introduction The complexities of distributive justice Genetic equality and a genetic decent minimum The genetic difference principle Conclusion 8 Normative theorizing about genetics: a response to Loi Introduction Some preliminary points Are genes ‘special’? Response to Loi Conclusion: genetic justice and the normative theorists’ ‘skill set’ Part III Patents, reproductive freedom, and patriarchy 9 Gene patents and justice Introduction Patents and libertarianism The Natural Rights Argument Egalitarianism and gene patents Prioritarianism Applying the lax biological difference principle The Prioritarian Efficiency Argument 10 PGD and reproductive freedom Introduction Value pluralism and the scope of reproductive freedom The Reasonable Genetic Intervention Model Reasonable means: where the action really is Conclusion 11 Historical materialism and patriarchy Introduction Basic materialism, warfare, and the creation of the division of labour Synchronic materialism and the base/superstructure metaphor Revolutions and diachronic materialism Patriarchy and the ‘resource curse’ Conclusion Conclusion Bibliography Index