Human Genomics and Genomic Medicine

During the previous years, voluntary moral bioenhancement (VMBE) has been contrasted to Compulsory Moral Bioenhancement (CMBE), promoted primarily by Persson and Savulescu. In this presentation a third possible type of MBE will be discussed: Genome editing for moral enhancement of the unborn that is neither voluntary nor compulsory, but involuntary. The focus of the presentation will therefore be on genome editing that is aimed at moral enhancement of human offspring. It will be argued that genome editing might have the potential to engineer human offspring in three domains: To be more empathetic, less violently aggressive and with a higher potential for complex moral reflection. Genome editing will be discussed in these three domains. It will be argued that a combination of VMBE and IMBE might be the best option humans have to enhance themselves morally.