Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

"Playing God" and germline intervention

T Peters1

  • 1Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, CA, USA.

The Journal of Medicine and Philosophy
|August 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Osteomyelitis or osteitis?

British dental journal·2020
Same author

Reactions of Perennial Grain Accessions to Four Major Cereal Pathogens of the Great Plains.

Plant disease·2019
Same author

[Transcorneal electrical stimulation in primary open angle glaucoma].

Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft·2016
Same author

Comparative study of all Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis strains isolated from food and food animals in Greece from 2008 to 2010 with clinical isolates.

European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·2016
Same author

Association between use of proton pump inhibitors and non-typhoidal salmonellosis identified following investigation into an outbreak of Salmonella Mikawasima in the UK, 2013.

Epidemiology and infection·2015
Same author

A multi-country Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 14b outbreak associated with eggs from a German producer: 'near real-time' application of whole genome sequencing and food chain investigations, United Kingdom, May to September 2014.

Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin·2015
Same journal

Zygotes are Persisting Organisms.

The Journal of medicine and philosophy·2026
Same journal

Ethical Examination of Genetic Enhancement from the Perspective of Confucian Human Dignity.

The Journal of medicine and philosophy·2026
Same journal

Reproducing Anachronism: Ageing, Fertility and Inequality in Reproductive Governance.

The Journal of medicine and philosophy·2026
Same journal

Genetic Moral Enhancement-A View Based on Mencius' Theory of Human Nature.

The Journal of medicine and philosophy·2026
Same journal

Egalitarian Justice and the Prevalence Principle in Human Genome Editing.

The Journal of medicine and philosophy·2026
Same journal

"It's Shaking Your Entire Construction as a Human Being": A Qualitative Analysis on Epistemic Injustice and Medical Gaslighting Consequences in Patients Living with Chronic Pain.

The Journal of medicine and philosophy·2026
See all related articles

Germline genetic intervention, often called "playing God," is ethically permissible. Viewing humans as "created co-creators" reframes ethical debates, supporting responsible genetic enhancements for future generations.

Area of Science:

  • Bioethics
  • Theology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • The ethical debate surrounding germline genetic intervention frequently invokes the phrase "playing God."
  • This phrase raises concerns about human pride and overreach in manipulating human genetics.
  • A theological perspective, specifically the Christian concept of *imago Dei*, offers an alternative framework for understanding human agency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically examine the ethical arguments against germline genetic intervention.
  • To re-evaluate these arguments through the lens of theological concepts, particularly human beings as "created co-creators."
  • To determine if ethical proscriptions against germline intervention can be ethically refuted.

Main Methods:

  • Philosophical and theological analysis of ethical arguments.
Keywords:
Analytical ApproachCouncil for Responsible GeneticsGenetics and ReproductionHuman Genome ProjectReligious Approach

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of the concept of *imago Dei* and its implications for human responsibility.
  • Deconstruction of common ethical objections to germline genetic modification.

    • Main Results:

    • Ethical arguments against germline intervention, when viewed through the *imago Dei* framework, are found to be insufficient.
    • The concept of humans as "created co-creators" supports a proactive role in shaping future generations.
    • Concerns about "playing God" can be reframed as responsible stewardship rather than hubris.

    Conclusions:

    • Germline genetic intervention is ethically permissible when understood within a theological framework of co-creation.
    • Humanity possesses a creative responsibility towards future progeny, including through genetic technologies.
    • The ethical landscape of germline modification should be navigated with a focus on responsible innovation.