Korean Journal of Medical Ethics
The Korean Society for Medical Ethics
Article

유전학적 맥락에서 인간 존엄성에 관한 연구*

양재섭1, 구미정2
Jae-Sub YANG1, Mi-Jung KOO2
1대구대학교 자연과학대학 유전공학과 jsyang@daegu.ac.kr
2대구대학교 필휴먼생명학연구소 ecotica@hanmail.net
1Department of Genetics, College of Natural Sciences, Daegu University
2Philhuman Institute of Life Studies, Daegu University

ⓒ Copyright 2004 The Korean Society for Medical Ethics. This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Published Online: Jun 30, 2004

ABSTRACT

The term of 'human dignity' is not an actual and verifiable concept, but a totally subjective and metaphysical one. It means that human dignity is not the primal concern for scientists - actually, it is not their business. On the other hand, there is strong belief among the popular, especially within the religious camp, that the human dignity should be taken under no circumstances. That's why it is so difficult to dialogue between science and religion.

As we are entering into new era led and controlled by genetics, it is increasingly observed that genetic researchers easily trespass on the human dignity, i.e., by naming the pre-embryo as a lump of cells not a human being.

The reason why we have to limit genetic interventions for the improvement of genes is because of a danger of eugenics. In that sense, we also need to consider that it is very difficult to discern gene therapy and gene enhancement, because the former can easily fit in with negative eugenics and the latter with positive eugenics in actual fact. The human desire to have 'perfect baby' will go on well with genetic interventions, and bring into new gene-classist society in no distance future.

We hope that genetics will not serve as a type of genetic Procrustean bed against which individuals will be measured; instead, it serves as the giver of benefits for all. For this end to be fulfilled, we have to make a consensus of what is human dignity and from what stage in the human developments he/she holds his/her whole personhood as a meaningful life. If we are wise enough, we can adjust our desire to intervene in our offspring's genes as well as our own to the evolutionary process of nature.

Keywords: 인간존엄성; 책임윤리; 유전자 치료; 유전자 향상; 인간 유전체와 인권에 관한 보편선언
Keywords: human dignity; the responsibility ethics; genetic interventions; gene therapy; gene enhancement; potential/whole personhood; Universal Declaration on the Human Genome and Human Rights