Posted by Stephen Charchuk on January 10, 1997 at 11:30:25:
In Reply to: Re: Constructive/Destructive as moral standard? posted by David on January 10, 1997 at 06:33:39:
: How about some of the consequences of Genetic Engineering. Most people believe that you will soon be able to genetically engineer smarter, stronger, healthier etc children (constructive), however, at least initially this will only be available to the privileged and rich. A lot of people would say that this is morally wrong (including religion?) even though it is constructive.
This comes under the heading of "Man Was NEVER meant to know such things" nonsense by those who fear anything which they don't understand. Technology is neither good nor bad in and of itself, it is the use in which it is put that could be considered either moral or immoral. Anything could be used for either for "good" or "evil" purposes. I.E. Atomic energy, it can be used to power our cities or to vaporize them. Is is exclusively good or evil?
: Don't get me wrong, I believe that you can construct a value system that does not depend on religion, I just think that it needs to be broader than constructive/destructive.
The world isn't black or white, it comes in many shades of grey (Sometimes even in colors) We have to construct a system which allows us to live our lives to their fullests without doing any real harm to others.