Re: the "not to be born" right

From: hal@finney.org
Date: Wed Nov 22 2000 - 11:41:50 MST


Anders writes:
> My point above is more about whether we should accept all changes than
> whether a certain change *could* be beneficial. Being born with a
> cross on your forehead (due to parents having odd religious views)
> *could* be beneficial in some circumstances, but most likely not and
> would impose quite a bit on the child.

I would not want my child to be born with a cross on his forehead,
but a religious person might. I might want my child to be born with a
nanotech enhanced immune system, but a religious person might not.

How can we judge these differences of opinion? Should I simply say I am
Right and He is Wrong? Should I take a live and let live attitude, shrug
and say that each person does as he chooses? I don't have good answers
to these questions.

Quoting Hal:
> > What about a parent who takes his child into space on some kind of
> > irreversible journey (say, a traditional SF generation ship to the stars)?
> > Should children conceived on such a trip be able to sue their parents?
> > Should the children on the Mayflower have sued their parents for exposing
> > them to the hardships of the New World? I don't think we can categorize
> > such journeys into necessary vs unnecessary risks.
>
> Isn't this a very different problem?

It is similar in that we have a parent who is imposing risks and costs on
their unborn children. If there is a feedback or compensation system
by which children can express their rights, wouldn't this arise in
situations other than genetic modifications? Forcing a child to grow
up in a harsh or limited environment should count, shouldn't it?

Hal



This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Mon May 28 2001 - 09:50:30 MDT