Samuel Murray
Dr. Evelyne Weeks
CRTW 201
November 5, 2009
The Uncalculated Consequences of Biotechnology
With every choice made, there is a consequence. Sometimes, the consequence is the desired consequence and sometimes it is not. Sometimes the desired consequence is achieved and then later down the road other consequences result that were unexpected. It seems like every time I turn on the TV there is a new commercial that starts with the famous phrase, “If you or someone you know has taken the prescription…” The law firms represented in these commercials make a living off of unexpected consequences. In Francis Fukuyama’s Our Posthuman Future: Consequences of the Biotechnology Revolution, Fukuyama brings up some of the unexpected consequences that biotechnology will have on the human race. Biotechnology seems like a great idea, but because of the unexpected consequences that will inevitably come in the area of human genetic engineering, the area of biotechnology and humans should not include children.
Limiting children’s creativity is already becoming an unforeseen consequence of biotechnology. Children, which seem to be overly hyperactive, are too often diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
What use to be commonplace in society, children spending large portions of their day outside playing, is now becoming rare and unusual. Therefore, pent up energy is poring over into class and is seen as fidgeting and socially unacceptable and must be dealt with. Fukuyama took a stance on this issue regarding Ritalin to control ADHD, when he said “The impulse to master human nature out of simple ambition or on the basis of ideological assumptions about the way people ought to be is all too common” (Fukuyama 94).
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Biotechnology In Human Medicine Biotechnology In Human Medicine Essay, Research Paper Alex Jaime Biology Jan. 7 "2000' Pg Report. "Biotechnology in Human Medicine' Biotechnology is the science by which scientist change or manage biological systems in living things. This science allows humans to better understand, and apply their learnings to things such as agriculture, industry and human medicine. ...
This unexpected consequence that limits children’s creativity is also illustrated in Andrew Niccol’s film, Gattaca. In the film, Gattaca, citizens who are not genetically engineered are filtered into mindless labor jobs such as janitors. These citizens are not allowed to be creative and pursue their dreams. People who are in favor of genetic engineering will argue that geneticist will be able to create far superior humans and eradicate diseases to make someone perfect. What they do not realize is that in the process, they will be creating a society of mindless drones.
Limiting children’s personalities is also showing itself as an unexpected consequence of biotechnology. Biotechnology produced Ritalin. “Ritalin has come to play the role of an overt instrument of social control” ( Fukuyama 46).
Ritalin is causing personalities that would otherwise be very rememberable to be masked because of over diagnosis of the supposed problem. In Gattaca, citizen’s potential for ADHD is screened out at birth because they want to be given “the best chance possible.” Later in the film, the main character’s personality and ability to concentrate is alluded to when another character notes that he has made “a million keystrokes without a single mistake” (Niccol).
People who are for biotechnology will argue that this heightened concentration proves the positive effects of biotechnology. On the contrary, mistakes are human. Ingenuity is human. Uniqueness is human. If biotechnology takes over society to the point where everyone is so categorized from birth that we lose our ability to be different, than we lose our ability to be human.
The benefits of biotechnology appear to be amazing on the outside. The creativity and personalities that would be destroyed however, definitely outweigh the benefits. Mindless children should not be the next unexpected consequence of biotechnology.
The Term Paper on Compare And Contrast The Theories Of Personality
Personality is an intriguing component in psychology vital for perception of human beings. Different theories of personality adopt different levels of explaining features of human beings. Two theories meet the conditions of personality and theories of development, Freud’s psychoanalytic theory later followed by Erikson’s psychosocial theory. Freud’s theory of personality ...
Outline
I. Introduction
II. Limiting Children’s Creativity
III. Limiting Children’s Personality
IV. Conclusion
Works Cited
Fukuyama, Francis. Our Posthuman Future: Consequences Of The Biotechnology
Revolution. New York: Picador, 2002.
Niccol, Andrew, dir. Gattaca. Perf. Ethan Hawke, Jude Law, and Uma Thurman.
Columbia Pictures Corporation, 1997.
