Question 1

Which of the following is a potential negative effect of genetic engineering discussed by Sandel?

Accepted Answer

Sandel discusses concerns about genetic engineering, including the potential for those who believe they have good genes to opt out of health insurance pools, thereby undermining the collective risk-sharing that insurance is based on.

Question 2

What does Sandel argue is the best answer to why the successful should owe anything to the least-advantaged members of society?

Accepted Answer

Sandel argues that our genetic endowments are gifts and not personal achievements, thus it's a mistake to believe we are entitled to all the benefits they bring without sharing with others.

Question 3

What "smug assumption" does Sandel think we can stave off with "a lively sense of the contingency of our gifts?"

Accepted Answer

Sandel argues that recognizing the contingency of our gifts helps counter the belief that the rich are inherently more deserving than the poor, as it highlights the role of luck and circumstance in one's success.

Question 4

Sandel suggests that technology that enables genetic engineering may have arisen not as a byproduct of medical research, but as an expression of

Accepted Answer

Sandel argues that genetic engineering technology has emerged as an expression of our desire to see ourselves as masters of our nature, rather than as a byproduct of medical research or a desire for certain aesthetic traits or immortality.

Question 5

Sandel asks "What would be lost if biotechnology dissolved our sense of giftedness?" Explain what he means by this question and what you think the correct answer is.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sandel asks "What would be lost if...

Question 6

What does it mean to be open to the unbidden? Do you think this openness is morally important? How does genetic engineering threaten this openness?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does it mean to be open...

Question 7

What is the difference between transforming love and accepting love? Use your own example to illustrate both the optimal balance of these types of parental love and the imbalance that worries Sandel in this essay.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between transforming love...

Question 8

What does Savulescu conclude from the "lazy parents" example?

Accepted Answer

Savulescu argues that if we have the means to enhance our children, failing to do so is a form of neglect. He suggests that enhancing children, whether through diet or genetics, is a moral obligation to ensure their well-being.

Question 9

Savulescu contends that genetic interventions differ from biological interventions in which of the following ways?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Savulescu contends that genetic interventions differ from...

Question 10

Savulescu argues that we should accept genetic enhancement if we accept

Accepted Answer

Savulescu argues that if we accept the treatment of disease to improve human well-being, we should also accept genetic enhancement as a means to improve human capabilities and quality of life.

Question 11

Savulescu notes that biological enhancement has which of these potential benefits?

Accepted Answer

Savulescu argues that biological enhancement could make humans morally better by improving empathy, altruism, and other social emotions that could lead to a more just society. Option A is incorrect because Savulescu does not believe that biological enhancement could make humans immortal. Option C is incorrect because Savulescu argues that biological enhancement could potentially lead to more social cohesion and better cooperation, rather than making humans more antisocial. Finally, option D is incorrect because Savulescu argues that biological enhancement could have potential benefits, but also drawbacks and ethical concerns that must be carefully considered.

Question 12

According to Savulescu, what was objectionable about the historical eugenics movement?

Accepted Answer

Savulescu argues that the objectionable aspect of the historical eugenics movement was its aim of realizing a state vision of a healthy population through coercion.

Question 13

Which of the following is not a possible way for our genes and biology to be determined, according to Savulescu?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is not a...

Question 14

Which of the following does Savulescu recommend as a limit on parental choice regarding the genetic enhancement of children?

Accepted Answer

Savulescu recommends that parental choice regarding the genetic enhancement of children must be consistent with the development of autonomy in the child and a reasonable range of future life plans. This means that the enhancement should not limit the child's choices or opportunities in life, and should allow them to make their own decisions and pursue their own goals. While preventing pain and suffering and benefiting society as a whole are important considerations, they are not sufficient to justify genetic enhancement if they come at the cost of the child's autonomy and self-determination.

Question 15

What is Savulescu's response to the claim that genetic engineering involves an objectionable form of "playing God?"

Accepted Answer

Savulescu argues that if we accept that healthcare professionals can make decisions about life and death in certain circumstances, then genetic engineering should also be morally permissible. He suggests that objections based on the idea of "playing God" are problematic because humans already make decisions that can be seen as "playing God" in the realm of healthcare. Therefore, objections to genetic engineering based on the idea of "playing God" are not persuasive.

Question 16

One objection to genetic engineering that Savuelscu considers is that, if we could engineer perfect children,

Accepted Answer

Savulescu considers the objection that genetic engineering to create "perfect" children could lead to a world lacking diversity, where everyone is the same, making it a sterile and monotonous place. This concern highlights the potential loss of individual uniqueness and the richness that comes from human diversity.

Question 17

What is an example of a self-defeating effect of genetic engineering?

Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates a self-defeating effect of genetic engineering because if everyone tried to make their children taller, no one would actually have an advantage as everyone would be tall. This demonstrates the point that genetic engineering can create a situation where everyone is trying to attain the same advantage, thus negating any individual benefit. Choice B and C are also plausible scenarios, but they are not as clear-cut as Choice A in showcasing a self-defeating effect.

Question 18

What does Savulescu mean when he says that "to be human is to be better." Do you agree with this claim? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does Savulescu mean when he says...

Question 19

Identify the strongest argument that Savulescu gives for the conclusion that genetic enhancement is morally obligatory and explain its premises and conclusion in your own words. What do you think is the strongest objection to this argument?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the strongest argument that Savulescu gives...

Question 20

Explains the limits that Savulescu thinks should govern parents in their choices regarding genetic enhancement. Do you think these limits are strong enough to prevent bad outcomes? Do you think they are too strong?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explains the limits that Savulescu thinks should...

Quiz 22: Genetic Engineering