The Future of Human Nature (Paperback)

~ Jürgen Habermas (Author) "Due to the spectacular advances of molecular genetics, more and more of what we are "by nature" is coming within the reach of biotechnological intervention..." (more)
Key Phrases: liberal eugenics, democratic common sense, programmed person, Ludwig Siep (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Habermas' thoughtful and self-critical contribution reads like the start of an important conversation...."

Jon Turney, Times Higher Education Supplement

"Thoughtful and stimulating."

Times Literary Supplement

"We are fortunate to have Jurgen Habermas writing about bioethics. His intelligence, moral seriousness and intellectual sophistication make him an exemplary figure on the Left"

Mark Blitz, Claremont Review of Books

"A rich introduction to current ethical thinking in Europe and to the relevance of philosophy to society."

Canadian Medical Association Journal

Product Description

Recent developments in biotechnology and genetic research are raising complex ethical questions concerning the legitimate scope and limits of genetic intervention. As we begin to contemplate the possibility of intervening in the human genome to prevent diseases, we cannot help but feel that the human species might soon be able to take its biological evolution in its own hands. 'Playing God' is the metaphor commonly used for this self-transformation of the species, which, it seems, might soon be within our grasp.





In this important new book, Jurgen Habermas - the most influential philosopher and social thinker in Germany today - takes up the question of genetic engineering and its ethical implications and subjects it to careful philosophical scrutiny. His analysis is guided by the view that genetic manipulation is bound up with the identity and self-understanding of the species. We cannot rule out the possibility that knowledge of one's own hereditary factors may prove to be restrictive for the choice of an individual's way of life and may undermine the symmetrical relations between free and equal human beings.





In the concluding chapter - which was delivered as a lecture on receiving the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade for 2001 - Habermas broadens the discussion to examine the tension between science and religion in the modern world, a tension which exploded, with such tragic violence, on September 11th. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Polity (April 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745629873
• ISBN-13: 978-0745629872
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #519,863 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent introduction, May 5, 2004

By A Customer

This is one of Habermas' simpler books. It marks a major turn in his thought, however. He no longer wishes to exclude questions of the "good life" (teleology) from judgements of justice (deontology). He sees that morality must be grounded in a "species ethic" (ie: a naturalist, religious or metaphysical anthropology). This is significant as his previous work betrayed the sceptical approach to modern liberalism maintained by his predecessors in the Frankfurt School (esp. Adorno & Horkheimer). He know longer holds fast to Dworkin-esque neutrality. Nonetheless he still places the priority on deontology, a fact that makes his claims more tangible than, say, Charles Taylor's. An insightful, well presented and simple read.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not overly complex, December 30, 2007

By	Laurance P. Strait (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Previous reviewers have complained that Habermas presents his ideas in a more complex way than necessary. I submit that those reviewers are correct that his ideas, as _they_ understand them, could have been presented more simply.

Habermas is writing to academics. Yes, you need to have some background knowledge to access his thought. If you think that he is being more complicated than necessary, you almost certainly just don't get it.

26 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Unnecessarily complicated, March 15, 2004

By	Zoya Zayler (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Future of Human Nature (Hardcover)

As the rest of Habermas's books, this one is an extremely difficult read. Unless you have previous knowledge of philosophical concepts, you will most likely not understand what Habermas is saying because he makes constant references to other philosophers, concepts and ideas. Rather than elaborating on them, he assumes that the reader already knows them. As well, I found that he takes rather simple concepts and makes them unnecessarily complex, as if to sound impressive. By the time you dig through all the semantic nonsense, you realize that his ideas are not exceptional and they could have been conveyed in a much simpler, straight-forward manner. This book is a complete waste of time since you will spend hours just trying to understand what he's attempting to say, thinking that you will discover something brilliant, only to be disappointed. My suggestion is to pick up a different book that is simpler to understand and where the author does not try to make his ideas sound impressive by using unnecessarily complicated language.