Humanity Under the Microscope - Essay Example

What is humanity? Naturally, being human does not imply that one possesses humanity. With humanity, one strives to ensure that others are happy without asking for a favour. Some term it as unconditional love for others. It is done with the motive of relieving others from things that burden them to help them realize happiness. Generally, helping one overcome his or her challenges without imposing condition on that person is what people believe is humanity. Science has led to a new perspective in the way people should practice humanity (Grinnell, 45). In particular science has been instrumental in providing solutions for some issues that humanity has been trying to deal with. Even though science is influential in fulfilling some of the goals of humanity, humanity still remains a quality possessed by an individual and cannot be replaced by science. As revealed in the introduction, science humanity has been significant in helping others realize their happiness despite their disadvantages. Human beings have been occupied by different issues that make them to lose life happiness. For example, they are affected by diseases, disabilities, and inheritance of deadly diseases. Such challenges deny them that desire to be happy. Generally, through humanity, people have been working to ensure that they provide happiness through showing their concern and helping them meet their needs. With the coming of science, different solutions have been determined that scientists believe that it can cater for happiness and help the disadvantaged overcome their challenges. Science can be used in helping the disabled to walk among catering for other needs. However, this cannot be said to guarantee one full needs in life. Humanity should enhance happiness among human beings. Generally, people derive happiness from social activities. In particular social activities that enhance happiness help people acknowledged that they are valued. Conversely, science has been used as a tool in ensuring that some of issues that lead to unhappiness in human life have been solved. For example, science can be used in helping parents select genes that they believe will provide them with children that will meet their desired standards. Although this sounds appealing, happiness can only be attained socially and not engineered genetically. This is because some of the genetically engineered solutions have uncertainties that are not yet addressed. According to Sharon (52), in her article in which she addresses the topic of “Designer Babies”, she acknowledges that with genetic engineering people know where to begin. However, “The harder question is this: do we know where to stop?” (Sharon 52). Generally, he implies that genetically engineered method can be utilized well from the beginning but their future cannot be predicted with great certainty. Considering that technology is enhanced to ensure that the challenges in human nature are dealt with, it cannot fulfil human destiny. Technology helps to ensure that some challenges on human beings are solved. Although the solution by technology can lead to happiness, it cannot help cater for destiny. For destiny, one is expected to achieve it at the end of life. People can encounter challenges that seem to challenge their desire for a given destiny. Fortunately, science can be used in addressing their challenges. Overlying on technology to ensure that certain fulfilments are made is a risky option. Vlahos (n.pag.) gives an example of excessive focus on bootlegs in therapeutic measures can be challenging in the future. He states “that we shouldn´t be limited to using bootlegs of therapeutic drugs “. Furthermore, when companies decide to focus on this technologies it could result in different challenges in the near future. This is because people will be forced also to invent other drugs to alter human behaviours that were engineered in the past. Some of these behaviours include sexual orientation, spirituality and empathy. Such findings reveal that technology cannot be used in fulfilling a person’s destiny. Precisely, the unexpected consequences of technology on a person make it hard for one to fulfil his or her destiny by relying on technology. The challenges of relying on DNA make it insignificant to rely on DNA in enhancing a person’s destiny. According to Duncan (n.pag.), he argues that DNA in genetic engineering has varied uses that are positive and also negative. Interestingly, its negative consequences are very bad and cannot be outdone by its positive side. As she describes the consequences of the DNA test basing on a real experience, it is revealed that a person exposed to this tests is susceptible to a heart attack. Such vulnerability creates fear in a person. Such vulnerability in engineering technologies is caused by unfinished development. In understanding the test, Duncan (n.pag.) states that “his tests offer only a rough sketch of my genetic future.” This is an indication that the test may have promising results but due to poor development in information one cannot put much focus on them. Precisely, the unavailability of enough information complicates reliance on technology for better human future. Replacing the inherence from the parents changes our nature. Through genetic engineering parents can decide to select the genes that they desire that their children should have. In particular, parents focus on admirable genes and ignore negative qualities. They design the babies that they feel will meet their desired standards in the world. Genetic engineering makes human beings objects. This is because in activating a given gene they will be expected to take a certain drug to make it active. According to Sharon (52), when a gene has been paired “the child would have to take a drug to activate the patience gene.” This implies that one may have that freedom to accept or reject the drug. This is a clear indication that human beings can shape their future by use of given components. However, dependence on drugs is a risk factor that cannot be reversed. The inability to reverse some negativity caused by man also makes him an object. Failure to control his actions denies him the power of humanity. This implies that human beings will have the ability to control their traits, but cannot control the worst consequences it will have on them when a gene is activated. Genetic engineering also makes it possible to give human beings characteristics that are make them appear like puppets. According to Hockenberry (n.pag), helping the disabled to enjoy the normal movement characteristics is like making them a puppet. Hockenberry (n.pag) states that getting good at disability “it’s closer to puppetry than anything else can think of.” This claim is strong indicating that any technology aimed at making man acquire certain characteristics makes him nothing less than a puppet. Also, altering the genes makes it hard for one to fulfil his humanity destiny. This is because the changing of genes is likely to impact on a person’s future negatively. For example, some mechanism used in gene engineering may expose a patient to certain diseases that are related to that of animals. For instance, in a genetic engineering process that sought to enhance the use of growth hormones, some of the patients how used the drug to alter their growth died. According to Everett (1), they died of “the fatal brain diseases that’s similar to mad cow.” This disease was common in the 1970s and 80s.” This observation reveals how the change of the genes to acquire certain characteristics exposes human beings to diseases that relate to animals. Precisely, such consequences make human beings be like animals, and thus they no longer remain humans. Even though science is influential in fulfilling some of the goals of humanity, humanity still remains a quality possessed by an individual and cannot be replaced by science. The act of humanity is expected to lead to happiness. This happiness is better when achieved socially than through science. Genetically engineered happiness comes with other challenges. The studies in genetic engineering are not en ought to provide for different issues that science cause on humanity. This makes it impossible to rely on genetic technology in fulfilling human destiny. Erasing human genes from parents makes the objects be like puppets and can contract diseases that relate to animals. Although science technology has limitations, it can be used to supplement social happiness in enhancing humanity. However, science alone cannot play the role of humanity, which is more applicable in social context. Works Cited Duncan, David E. “DNA as Destiny. Wired, 2002. Web. 26 April 2014. < http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/10.11/dna.html> Everrett, Jenny. “My Little Brother on Drugs”. Popular Science, 2004. Web. 26 April 2014. < http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2004-04/my-little-brother-drugs> Grinnell, Richard W. Science and Society. Harlow: Pearson Longman, 2006. Print. Hockenberry, John. “The Next Braniacs.” Wired, 2001. Web. 26 April 2014. < http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/9.08/assist.html> Sharon, Begley. “Designer Babies”. Newsweek (Atlantic edition), 132. 19 (1998): 42. Print. Vlahos, James. “Will Drugs makes us Smarter and Happier?” Popular Science, 267. 3 (2005): 64. Print. Read More