Playing God? Synthetic Biology from a Protestant Perspective
General Material Designation
[Article]
First Statement of Responsibility
Christina Aus der Au
.PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION, ETC
Place of Publication, Distribution, etc.
Leiden
Name of Publisher, Distributor, etc.
Brill
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
Living organisms can be seen from two different perspectives: From an observer's perspective, the researcher is looking to find and describe properties that characterize them, and from a participant's perspective, a human recognizes its vis-à-vis as an equally living and intention pursuing subject. From a Protestant perspective, a third way of looking at it is introduced. Believing in God as the primordial "I," Christians confess to "You-ness" as their primordial and existential condition, enabling them not only to enter a relationship to other' you-ness', but to recognize God's great "I" in every drop of creation. The ethics of dealing with living organisms, including the human-made organisms of synthetic biology, then is a question of norms and principles but of an attitude of responsiveness, respect and love. Living organisms can be seen from two different perspectives: From an observer's perspective, the researcher is looking to find and describe properties that characterize them, and from a participant's perspective, a human recognizes its vis-à-vis as an equally living and intention pursuing subject. From a Protestant perspective, a third way of looking at it is introduced. Believing in God as the primordial "I," Christians confess to "You-ness" as their primordial and existential condition, enabling them not only to enter a relationship to other' you-ness', but to recognize God's great "I" in every drop of creation. The ethics of dealing with living organisms, including the human-made organisms of synthetic biology, then is a question of norms and principles but of an attitude of responsiveness, respect and love.
SET
Date of Publication
2013
Physical description
48-59
Title
Worldviews: Global Religions, Culture, and Ecology