Time to question bioengineering.

[Autumnlicious]

The reason many scientists and engineers don't take the "warnings" of liberal artists seriously is because they know jack shit.

That is a profoundly ignorant statement.

So these "liberal artists" are knowledgeable to the same degree as the experts? Hardly.

Not to mention, I spend pretty much all my time around scientists and engineers -- I hear that complaint often. But I suppose that's a "profoundly ignorant" statement.

You should read your own posts for the reek of self-serving moral superiority. I'm a science student myself, I've no desire to paint scientists as soulless or in need of control, it's scientists I most want to hear from in the debate. I do have a notion of the animal welfare legislation there is, I'm not an expert. I simply assume you agree there needs to be animal welfare legislation, and I wanted to extend the debate to this new area of science. If the current legislation covers this already, you simply had to point out, if you know.

There exists legislation and voluntary review boards, staffed of bioethicists and the like, to review any research that uses animals. If you wished to "extend the debate", then why did you NOT look into that? I'd think that would be the FIRST thing to do, not the last.

I selected chimps for the exact reason of driving home a human-like point. I want to talk about the limits of where we take this. We will one day be capable of bioengineering in humans.

Except that primate research is heavily regulated and controlled. Kind of hard to make a solid point when the outcomes require significant changes that are unlikely to occur? Once again, fear is a tool.

If there is a profound issue with controlling other organisms, then controlling an insect should be no worse a travesty.

If there is another issue, then it becomes difficult to use certain examples if they require things to suddenly change. Your postulating would be more effective if it is possible and allowed under current laws.

We'll be able to direct our own evolution (Neo-evolution).

I don't think you understand what evolution is then. Perhaps you meant transhumanism?

Is there a problem with this? I haven't suggested mindless fear as a route to go down, all I said is that it's an emotional response to this subject which comes up, fairly understandably.

Sex with furniture - is there a problem with this? Developing nuclear technology - is there a problem with this? Letting certain people marry - is there a problem with this?

By adding the 'problem' part, you load the question into searching for a negative. If you wish for a discussion, then aren't you searching for a "what are the consequences of something"?

It's important we address this and don't let it be the basis or direction for our decisions, but maybe a motivation to make good ones. We should of course use our reason to make these decisions.

Of course.

Why you have to be so unpleasant about it is beyond me.