The Future of Human Nature - by Jürgen Habermas (Paperback)

This book by Jürgen Habermas is a must-read for anyone interested in bioethics, genetic engineering, and the ethical implications of modern science.

Habermas, one of the most influential philosophers of our time, provides a thoughtful and self-critical analysis of the tension between science and religion in the modern world, particularly as it relates to genetic manipulation and its impact on human identity and self-understanding. The book explores the complex ethical questions raised by recent developments in biotechnology and genetic research, including the possibility of intervening in the human genome to prevent diseases.

Habermas argues that knowledge of one's own hereditary factors may prove to be restrictive for an individual's way of life and may undermine the symmetrical relations between free and equal human beings. Habermas' analysis is guided by the view that genetic manipulation is bound up with the identity and self-understanding of the species, and he offers a number of new developments in his "discourse ethics" - including a willingness to engage in applied ethics at all.

The book concludes with a broad examination of the tension between science and religion in the modern world, particularly as it relates to the tragic violence of September 11th. Overall, this book is a rich introduction to current ethical thinking in Europe and to the relevance of philosophy to society.

It is a must-read for anyone interested in bioethics, genetic engineering, and the ethical implications of modern science.