Genetic Engineering

Savuescu argues that parents have a duty to give their children every advantage they possibly can. This includes using genetic engineering to enhance their children, provided that the procedure is both safe and to the benefit of the child. Glannon objects on the grounds that this will give affluent parents an unfair advantage over parents of restricted means. Savuescu responds that genetic enhancements are no different that social enhancements. Affluent parents often send their children to expensive private schools. This gives the children of affluent families a clear advantage. But no one would think of restricting the liberty of parents when it comes to giving their child every opportunity.

Read the short story Harrison Bergeron
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by Kurt Vonnegut. Evaluate Glannon’s criticism of Savuescu in light of Vonnegut’s short story. To what extent should the government limit individual and parental liberty in order to enforce some arbitrary standard of equality?