“Human nature” can it be used as a reason to support or oppose human enhancement
10.12026/j.issn.1001-8565.2026.03.12
- VernacularTitle:“人性”能否作为支持或反对人类增强的理由
- Author:
Lingzhi WANG
1
Author Information
1. Department of Ideological and Political Education， Shanxi University of Medicine， Fenyang 032200， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
human enhancement;
human nature;
naturalism;
perfectibility
- From:
Chinese Medical Ethics
2026;39(3):365-369
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Ethical discussions on human enhancement technologies are often inseparable from “human nature，” which serves as grounds for both supporting and opposing emerging biotechnologies such as genetic enhancement. In the context of human enhancement technologies， two views of human nature have emerged， namely， naturalism and perfectibility. Arguments regarding “human nature” can be roughly divided into two frameworks， including the “grateful” and the “creative.” The grateful framework asserts that unaltered natural genes constitute the essence of being human and therefore prohibits human enhancement. The creative framework argues that using genetic enhancement technologies to perfect human beings is an essential requirement of human nature and thus holds a supportive attitude. However， both argument approaches have their drawbacks. The “human nature” argument cannot serve as a critical reason for supporting or opposing human enhancement， and it struggles to provide clear ethical guidance for the application of human enhancement.
