THE APPLICATION OF HUMAN GENOME EDITING TECHNOLOGIES: PHILOSOPHICAL ASPECTS OF UNDERSTANDING

doi:10.26565/2226-0994-2020-63-16

Svitlana V. Sumchenko State Establishment “Luhansk State Medical University”; 32, Budivelnikiv str., 93012, Rubizhne, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7880-8059
Olena A. Naumkina Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A. S. Makarenko; 87, Romenska str., 40002, Sumy, Ukraine https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2187-4316

DOI: https://doi.org/10.26565/2226-0994-2020-63-16

Keywords: high technologies, “enhancing evolution”, genetic engineering, bioethics

Abstract

The article deals with certain aspects, risks, and ethical problems of technological improvement of human, namely the use of technologies for transformation his / her genome. At the present stage of civilizational progress of humanity, the scientific potential of society and the possibility of producing high technologies initiate technological transformation in the evolution of civilization. There have not yet been analogues of this transformation in the history of mankind. One aspect of this transformation is the transformation of the biological nature of human. Human improves the art of his own qualitative transformation. Human is trying to spread his control over his own evolution. The main objects of technological influence on humans are the brain and the genome. Ethical aspects of human enhancement need philosophical understanding. J. Harris made a significant contribution to the development of this issue. The article presents his teachings of “enhancing evolution”, according to which human improvement is a reasonable way of development. The awareness of the ethical issues associated with the imperfections of these technologies and the problems associated with the perspective of their application to human embryos has contributed to the holding of International Summits on Human Gene Editing. The analysis of the results of their work gives us the opportunity to assert that there is a consensus among scientists to prevent the practical application of inherited editing of the human genome today. The article emphasizes that now, in the conditions of existential threats, risks that have an integrated manner, it is extremely necessary to focus on axiological, ethical and humanistic values in the system of scientific knowledge. Scientists should focus on the socio-cultural dimension of human improvement. In this context, bioethics, which has become the answer to many ethical questions and problems, becomes extremely important. Bioethics can become the basis for creating science-based balance between the practical application of technologies for human improvement and human rights, the principles of humanism and progress.

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Author Biographies

Svitlana V. Sumchenko, State Establishment “Luhansk State Medical University”; 32, Budivelnikiv str., 93012, Rubizhne, Ukraine

PhD in Philosophy, Associate Professor of the Department of Humanities and Physical Education

Olena A. Naumkina, Sumy State Pedagogical University named after A. S. Makarenko; 87, Romenska str., 40002, Sumy, Ukraine

PhD in Philosophy, Аssociate Professor of the Department of Philosophy and Social Sciences

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