Genomics and democracy
Subtitle: towards a 'lingua democratica' for the public debate on genomics
By: edited by Peter Derkx and Harry Kunneman
Series: Life sciences, ethics and democracy -- 1; Life sciences, ethics and democracy -- 1.
Publisher: Rodopi
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Amsterdam; New York, NY
Language: eng
Number of pages: 355
ISBN-13: 9789042037199; 9789401209755
Subjects: Genomics; Moral and ethical aspects; Political aspects; Ethics; Democracy; Human Rights; Public Policy; Socioeconomic Factors
Description: This book addresses the ethical and political questions flowing from the vastly increased possibilities to manipulate the genetic properties of organisms, including human beings. Due to the great complexity of the scientific fields involved, these questions are framed and answered mostly by scientific experts. But the new technological possibilities and social practices connected with genetic manipulation intrude into domains that for a long time have been the provenance of religious and secular worldviews and touch upon deep-seated convictions and emotions. Moreover they are strongly influenced by economic and political interests. As a consequence, questions of scientific truth and technical control are getting more and more mixed up with questions regarding values and interests. Against this background, this book starts from the premise that neither clinging to the idea of value-neutral, disinterested science, nor the complete abandonment of this idea in favour of postmodern relativism will be of much help here.--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Part 1. Complexity theory, social constructionism and hermeneutics; title: Part 2. Ethics and worldviews; title: Part 3. Corporations, governments and democracy.