Biotechnology, Human Nature, and Christian Ethics

In public debates over biotechnology, theologians, philosophers, and political theorists have proposed that biotechnology could have significant implications for human nature. They argue that ethical evaluations of biotechnologies that might affect human nature must take these implications into account. In this book, Gerald McKenny examines these important yet controversial arguments, which have in turn been criticized by many moral philosophers and professional bioethicists. He argues that Christian ethics is, in principle, committed to some version of the claim that human nature has normative status in relation to biotechnology. Showing how both criticisms and defences of this claim have often been facile, he identifies, develops, and critically evaluates three versions of the claim, and contributes a fourth, distinctively Christian version to the debate. Focusing on Christian ethics in conversation with secular ethics, McKenny's book is the first thorough analysis of a controversial contemporary issue.

• Mathematical treatments are avoided, making this accessible to a wider range of readers
• Proposes a new view of social science and is descriptive, critical, and constructive, allowing readers to find formulations of the major positions, critical analyses of them, and an exposition of an entirely new position
• Focuses on Christian ethics in conversation with Jewish and secular ethics, appealing to various disciplines