Question 1

Which of the following cases was offered as a counterexample to the claim that if a practice undermines our authenticity, it is immoral?

Accepted Answer

The case of a person choosing to become a drug addict out of boredom is used as a counterexample because it involves a voluntary decision that undermines authenticity, yet it is not necessarily considered immoral by all ethical standards.

Question 2

Some critics of genetic enhancement argue that genetic enhancement is immoral because there is a fundamental difference between genetic enhancement and

Accepted Answer

Improving oneself through hard work is seen as morally praiseworthy because it involves personal effort and perseverance, while genetic enhancement does not require any personal effort on the part of the individual. Critics argue that using genetic technology to enhance one's abilities or traits bypasses the moral value of hard work and undermines the moral development that comes from striving to achieve one's goals through effort and determination. On the other hand, choices B, C, and D all relate to genetic modification in some way and do not capture the fundamental difference between genetic enhancement and hard work.

Question 3

Which of the following is not an understanding of what it is to be natural that may be employed by proponents of the Unnaturalness Argument?

Accepted Answer

While the other three options are commonly used by proponents of the Unnaturalness Argument, the notion that being natural requires being purely organic is not often employed.

Question 4

It may not always be morally wrong to change things that have natures because _______ things that have natures are _______.

Accepted Answer

According to the question, there are things that have natures, and this suggests that they have an essence or a fundamental characteristic that defines their identity. Therefore, some things with natures may have positive attributes that make them good, while others may have negative attributes that make them bad. As such, it cannot be said that all things with natures are good, or all things are bad. Therefore, the correct answer is (D) some; bad.

Question 5

According to the Playing God Argument, genetic engineering involves a kind of

Accepted Answer

The Playing God Argument suggests that genetic engineering is an act of arrogance, as it involves humans manipulating and altering the genetic makeup of other living organisms, which some people believe to be a power that should be reserved for a deity or higher power.

Question 6

On the understanding of playing God considered in this chapter, which of these people would count as playing God?

Accepted Answer

All of the above can be seen as playing God in different ways. A) Parents who intend to conceive a child are making decisions about bringing new life into the world and potentially modifying that life through genetic testing or selecting preferred genetic traits. B) A soldier who sacrifices themselves to save their comrades is making a decision about who deserves to live and who deserves to die. C) An emergency room doctor who makes life and death decisions is literally playing God in deciding who lives and who dies in urgent medical situations.

Question 7

The Playing God Argument relies on the idea that

Accepted Answer

The Playing God Argument is a broader ethical and philosophical stance that does not specifically assert any of the given detailed positions. It generally critiques human attempts to control or alter natural processes or entities in ways that could be seen as assuming roles or powers traditionally ascribed to a deity, without specifying the exact nature of divine will or capability regarding changing traits or genetic enhancement.

Question 8

Critics of genetic engineering are typically not critical of

Accepted Answer

Critics of genetic engineering often express concerns about GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), CRISPR-cas9 gene editing, and genetic enhancement due to ethical, safety, and environmental issues. However, they are generally more supportive of genetic therapies, which aim to treat or prevent diseases, because these therapies are seen as beneficial for individual health without the broader implications of the other technologies.

Question 9

What does GMO stand for?

Accepted Answer

GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. It refers to any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

Question 10

Which argument against genetic engineering do you think is the strongest? Offer additional reasons to believe that the premises of the argument are true. What is the strongest response available to a proponent of genetic engineering?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which argument against genetic engineering do you...

Question 11

Explain the extrapolation problem as it applies to genetic engineering. How do you think policymakers should proceed in light of this problem?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the extrapolation problem as it applies...

Question 12

Are social policies that result in unequal distributions of benefits always or usually immoral? Explain your answer with reference to some current or historical social policies that have resulted in inequality.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Are social policies that result in unequal...

Question 13

What is the authenticity of the self? Is it morally bad to be inauthentic? Is it possible to remain authentic despite receiving genetic enhancement? Explain your answers.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the authenticity of the self?...

Question 14

Is there any understanding of what it is to "play God" that makes the premises in the Playing God Argument true? Is that how we should understand what it is to "play God?" Is there anything else humans do that would qualify as "playing God" in this way?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is there any understanding of what it...

Question 15

For Sandel, acknowledging the giftedness of life requires recognizing that

Accepted Answer

Sandel argues that acknowledging the giftedness of life requires recognizing that our talents and powers are not wholly our own doing. He is critical of the idea that everything in the world is open to whatever use we might desire and that we can remake nature.

Question 16

If parents genetically engineered their children, what would follow, according to Sandel?

Accepted Answer

Sandel argues that genetically engineering children would eliminate the openness to the unbidden that is essential to meaningful parenthood. Parents would no longer be accepting their children as gifts but rather as products to be designed according to their specifications. This would lead to a loss of appreciation for the uniqueness of each child and reduce parenthood to a technological procedure rather than a relational experience.

Question 17

Sandel argues that it is morally problematic for parents to show too much _______ love and neglect _______ love.

Accepted Answer

Sandel argues that it is morally problematic for parents to show too much transforming love, which seeks to shape children according to certain ideals or desires, and neglect accepting love, which values and accepts children for who they are.

Question 18

Sandel argues that _______ is disturbingly close to eugenics.

Accepted Answer

Sandel argues that hyper-parenting, which involves using techniques like genetic testing and selective breeding to produce children with desirable traits, is disturbingly close to eugenics, which involves manipulating the genetic makeup of a population to create a "master race."

Question 19

What is the distinctive idea in the new "liberal eugenics" Sandel discusses?

Accepted Answer

The new "liberal eugenics" Sandel discusses emphasizes that parents have the freedom to choose the genetic enhancements they want for their children, as long as those traits do not limit their life plans and capabilities. Unlike previous eugenics programs, the state will not dictate what kinds of children are designed. This idea emphasizes the importance of individual choice but also recognizes the need for ethical considerations when it comes to genetic engineering.

Question 20

What is one of the benefits of seeing ourselves as creatures of nature, God, or fortune, according to Sandel?

Accepted Answer

According to Sandel, seeing ourselves as creatures of nature, God, or fortune can have the benefit of not seeing ourselves as wholly responsible for the way we are. This can provide some relief from the pressures of individualism and the idea that we are completely in control of our lives.

Quiz 22: Genetic Engineering