Dialogue among pre- and post-genetic revolution civilisations

Abstract

The genetic revolution will have a profound impact on human society and therefore on the public policy environment. This article aims to describe the public policy paradigms and paradigm shifts that will determine the framework for dialogue – public policy discourse – on an abstract conceptual level. The genetic revolution will place the determination of children’s genetic endowment squarely within the domain of human control, and hence the responsibility for a new child’s genetic endowment will shift from nature to man. In order for this paradigm shift to take place in public policy, it must be realised that ‘naturalness’ has no ethical significance. A further major obstacle in the way of this paradigm shift is the mystification paradox: as the genetic revolution is increasing our scientific understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of life, so these mechanisms are being demystified; but simultaneously a variety of factors, for instance the fact that this new science seems to penetrate the very essence of life, as well as the existence of a new esoteric genetic terminology that is inaccessible to the general public mystify genetics. Education provides the essential platform for dialogue among the pre- and post-genetic revolution civilisations.