The definition of nature which we will be addressing is ?the processes and functions of the body.? We assume that all these processes and functions have some kind of ?normal level? that defines us as humans. We believe that these processes and functions have some sort of objective level at which one can define those functions as normal or adequate. The functioning of a broken arm is below the level of that of a normal arm. The processes of an autistic brain are below the level of that of a normal brain. And so on. Anything beyond this normal level is what we will refer to as enhancement.
We have evidence to believe that we will one day be able to solve all health problems with gene therapy, similar to the way you remove viruses off of a computer. We believe that any manipulation of genes that would affect the processes and functions of the body to a level beyond normal is unethical. Our argument specifically is concerned with the economic fact that the rich have more access to such technologies than the poor. While we currently have a system in which the children of the rich already have a head start in the private schools they attend to the gated neighborhoods they grow up in, enhancing their bodies and minds through gene therapy would create an insurmountable advantage for them. Having a class in society that is mentally and physically superior to the poorer lower class could potentially lead to devastating effects on our society. This also has implications on what we value culturally. As a capitalistic society, we are lead to believe that the harder you work, the bigger chunk of the pie you will get. And at an individual level, we admire pianists not only because of the music they create, but the hours of hard work spent in practicing and going to lessons that creating the music entails. By removing or lessening our value of ?hard work? from society, we would need to completely reevaluate our experience of appreciation and beauty. Appreciation entails not only admiring the act, the work of art, or your favorite dish Mom makes, but also an admiration for the efforts used to create the act or product. Without the latter, will we be able to experience the level of pleasure and enjoyment we once did?
Our restriction on gene therapy does not get in the way of one fundamental ethical principle: our obligation to prevent future human suffering whenever possible. Eliminating genes that make us susceptible to cancer or heart disease is an example of ethically acceptable applications of our belief. Improving mental or physical ability or enhancing normal processes and functions of the body are not acceptable.
While our conditions on when it is acceptable to interfere with nature provide a general guidance, there is a large grey area as to what is meant when one says ?normal? or what exactly ?enhancement? entails. Difficult debates will lie ahead in creating an acceptable definition of what normal is. Such more complicated issues should be resolved by some sort of oversight council. This council will consist of a national branch and a local branch. Local branches will be found at local hospitals and will deal with the day-to-day ethical issues having to do with gene therapy. They will follow the guidelines, rules, and regulations of a national branch whose main role is to standardize gene therapy practices and the ethical issues on which these guidelines are based.
