Unnatural selection
Subtitle: the challenges of engineering tomorrow's people
By: [edited by] Peter Healey and Steve Rayner.
Contributors: Healey, Peter, 1942-; Rayner, Steve, 1953-; Earthscan.
Publisher: Earthscan
Published: 2008
Place of publication: London; Sterling, VA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 273
ISBN-13: 9781844076222
Subjects: Medical innovations -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Congresses; Rejuvenation -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Congresses; Longevity -- Moral and ethical aspects -- Congresses; Medical ethics -- Congresses; Biomedical Enhancement -- ethics -- Congresses; Bioethical Issues -- Congresses; Biomedical Enhancement -- methods -- Congresses; Life Expectancy -- trends -- Congresses; Longevity -- ethics -- Congresses
Genres: Congresses.
Description: "With ever-advancing scientific understanding and technological capabilities, humanity stands on the brink of the potential next stage of evolution: evolution engineered by us. Nanotechnology, biotechnology, information technology and cognitive science offer the possibility to enhance human performance, lengthen life-span and reshape our inherited physical, cognitive and emotional identities. But with this promise come huge risks, complex choices and fundamental ethical questions: about evolution; about what it is to be human; and about control over, and the distribution of benefits from, new technology." "Written by a range of experts in science, technology, bioethics and social science, Unnatural Selection examines the range of technological innovations offering lives that purport to be longer, stronger, smarter and happier, and asks whether their introduction is likely to lead to more fulfilled individuals and a fairer world. the breadth of approaches and perspectives make important reading for anyone who cares about the implications of humanity engineering its own evolution."--Jacket.
Notes: Based on a conference entitled "Tomorrow's People: the Challenges of Technologies for Life Extension and Enhancement" which was organized by the James Martin Institute for Science and Civilization at Oxford University's Saïd Business School and held in Oxford in 2006.

Includes bibliographical references and index.