Watershed by James Blish Philosophical issues

Story Line tells of psycho-social attitudes of crew members against genetically modified human beings genetically modified human beings can survive on an Earth that has undergone drastic climatological changes, whereas unmodified human beings cannot position of unmodified humans is that the modified humans aren't really human, and aren’t really ethically on a par as persons with the original stock position of the modified humans is that modification has nothing to do either with being human or with being a person.

Some Issues Is genetic modification of humanity ethically objectionable? Is genetic modification of humanity ethically objectionable?  This is not the central issue of the short story, but it is raised by the facts that underlie it Are there different ethical grades of personhood? Are there different ethical grades of personhood?

Is genetic modification of humanity ethically objectionable? What would be the underlying assumption(s) of such a position? What would be the underlying assumption(s) of such a position? Are these assumptions defensible Are these assumptions defensible –Logically –Ethically –Pragmatically (do they accord with facts?)  Underlying question: –Can doing something artificially that occurs naturally be unethical?

Side Bar Keep in mind The Ballad of Lost C’Mell Keep in mind The Ballad of Lost C’Mell C’Mell is a human/cat hybrid C’Mell is a human/cat hybrid Legally, she is not a full-fledged person Legally, she is not a full-fledged person Is the problematic raised in that story different from the problematic raised in ‘Watershed’ and in ‘Evidence’? Is the problematic raised in that story different from the problematic raised in ‘Watershed’ and in ‘Evidence’?

But to continue with “Watershed” Modification of genome can be ethically objectionable on several grounds Modification of genome can be ethically objectionable on several grounds  Violation of species telos  Violation of proprietary or dispositional rights of whoever owns the genome  Violation of intrinsic value of the genome  Production of harm in those who are “structured” by the modified genome

Notion of species telos Some Reading Some Reading –The Frankenstein Syndrome. Ethical and Social Issues in the Genetic Engineering of Animals (Cambridge, Mass.: Cambridge University Press, 1995), –P. W. Taylor, Respect for Nature. A Theory of Environmental Ethics (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1986), p. 45. Cf. especially pp. 119–29. –M. W. Fox, ‘Transgenic Animals: Ethical and Animal Welfare Concerns’, in P. Wheale and R. McNally (eds), The Bio- Revolution. Cornucopia or Pandora’s Box? (London and Winchester, Mass.: Pluto Press, 1990) – – M. Banner, Report of the Committee to Consider the Ethical Implications of Emerging Technologies in the Breeding of Farm Animals (UK Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1995).

Notion of species telos Logical requirements for the notion Logical requirements for the notion –Species as “natural kind” –“natural kind” as logically/ontologically delimited –“natural kind” as internally controlled/directed Basis in Aristotelian ontology of nature Basis in Aristotelian ontology of nature

Violation of proprietary or dispositional rights of whoever owns the genome Assumes that genome can be owned or can be subject of a dispositionary right Assumes that genome can be owned or can be subject of a dispositionary right Raises issue of who is owner or who has dispositionary right Raises issue of who is owner or who has dispositionary right

Violation of intrinsic value of the human genome –Requires defense of notion of intrinsic value  Something that does not derive its value from something other than/outside of itself. –Historically, associated with Plato, Epicurus, Bentham, Sidgwick, Moore, etc. See Selby-Bigge, British Moralists BJ601 S4 and intrinsic-extrinsic/#WhaHasIntVal for more references BJ601 S4 intrinsic-extrinsic/#WhaHasIntVal BJ601 S4 intrinsic-extrinsic/#WhaHasIntVal  “universe by itself” thought experiment

Production of harm in those who are “structured” by the modified genome Based on Principle of non-Malfeasance Based on Principle of non-Malfeasance How is ‘harm’ defined? How is ‘harm’ defined? –Relative to individuals who are structured by the genome –Relative to species survival –Relative to species telos

Central questions Are there different graders of personhood? Are there different graders of personhood? Does modification automatically entail reduction in degree of personhood? Does modification automatically entail reduction in degree of personhood?

Are there different grades of personhood? Relevance to story: Relevance to story: –If yes, can one say that modified humans are persons but not on a par with unmodified humans  Implications for treatment of population groups in (contemporary) society –If yes, can one say that the modified humans are “above” non-modified humans?  Does type of modification count? –Athletic prowess –Beauty (?) –Intelligence –Social functioning

Question about reasoning of modified humans Does the fact that modified humans can do things unmodified humans cannot do have any implications for the question of Does the fact that modified humans can do things unmodified humans cannot do have any implications for the question of –Moral worth? –Rights?

Question about modification and humanity Are there limits that genetic modification cannot/must not cross before someone is no longer human? Are there limits that genetic modification cannot/must not cross before someone is no longer human? Is this a biological question? Is this a biological question?  Cross fertility? Does this question have ethical relevance? Does this question have ethical relevance?

Something out of left field Do modified human beings have souls? Do modified human beings have souls? Do robots have souls? Do robots have souls? Do clones have souls? Do clones have souls?

Further questions What would Descartes say? What would Descartes say? What would Kant say? What would Kant say? What would Strawson say? What would Strawson say? How does all this fit in with The Ballad of Lost C’Mell ? How does all this fit in with The Ballad of Lost C’Mell ?