The hottest Bioethics Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top Philosophy Topics

Thank Alabama for the Coming Superbabies

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 1975 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Reproductive Rights Bioethics Conservatives
  1. The Alabama Supreme Court's ruling has made reproductive technology more widely acceptable, aligning with liberals' control of major institutions and the high level of political polarization.
  2. Conservative elites, who have often used reproductive technology, are now publicly supporting IVF, influencing the public narrative and response to the Alabama ruling.
  3. IVF and embryo selection are increasingly common, especially among educated populations, showcasing a societal shift towards embracing biotechnology for reproductive purposes.

Opponents of IVF Should Oppose Natural Conception Too

Parrhesia • 647 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🏥 Health & Wellness Ethics Bioethics
  1. Opponents of IVF may need to extend their beliefs to also include opposition to natural conception, as it results in the loss of embryos similar to IVF.
  2. Banning IVF raises the issue of a paradox where excess embryos are never created nor destroyed, leading to no children being born.
  3. A consistent stance against IVF should logically also entail a stance against natural conception, due to the loss of embryos that often occurs in both processes.

Hereditarian Hypotheses Aren't More Harmful

ideassleepfuriously • 1238 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
🔬 Science Genetics Bioethics Technology Research Health
  1. The blank slate perspective can lead to conflict, totalitarianism, and rejection of genetic enhancement technology.
  2. We should value understanding the role of genes in socioeconomic outcomes for accurate policy-making.
  3. Attributing group disparities to genes can reduce blame, control, and punishment, fostering compassion and reducing social conflict.

Autism diagnoses are rising, yes, but autism, probably not

Just Emil Kirkegaard Things • 923 implied HN points • 09 Jan 24
🔬 Science Autism Diagnosis Mental health Genetics Bioethics
  1. Autism diagnoses are increasing due to more liberal diagnostic criteria and shifts in categorization.
  2. There is a trend of decreasing thresholds for autism diagnoses, including reclassifying individuals previously diagnosed with other conditions.
  3. The prevalence of autism is influenced by genetic factors, and options for reducing autism risk may raise ethical questions.
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Harman, Harm, and the Non-Identity Problem

Good Thoughts • 78 implied HN points • 10 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Ethics Metaethics Bioethics
  1. Different conceptions of harm can impact ethical judgments in non-identity cases, where an act may be considered wrong even if it doesn't directly harm any particular individual. It's essential to understand the nuances of harm in ethical reasoning.
  2. The non-identity problem challenges how we weigh harms and benefits, especially in cases where creating one individual may imply preventing the existence of a potentially happier individual. Balancing intrinsic harms and benefits can be complex in moral decision-making.
  3. Respecting individuals' normative perspectives is crucial when evaluating harm and benefit considerations. Understanding the implications of harm, compensation, and overall welfare in decision-making processes is integral for ethical evaluations.

An Irony of the Eugenics Objection to PGT-P

Parrhesia • 494 implied HN points • 28 Feb 23
🏥 Health Politics Reproductive Rights Bioethics Eugenics
  1. Opposing polygenic screening due to eugenics objections may overlook the importance of informed reproductive choices.
  2. The immorality in eugenics lies in coercion and harming people, not in the goal of improving population health.
  3. It's important to have nuanced discussions about controversial topics like PGT-P, focusing on justice and informed decision-making.

House of Fauci: How Dr. Christine Grady, aka Mrs. Fauci, Used Her NIH Position To Backstop Her Husband’s Pandemic Health Directives

OpenTheBooks Substack • 272 implied HN points • 20 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ethics Pandemic response Government transparency Bioethics
  1. Dr. Christine Grady supported her husband Dr. Anthony Fauci's pandemic directives from her position at the NIH.
  2. The Faucis represent the clash between top-down public policy by elites and individual freedoms.
  3. Grady advocated for lockdowns, vaccine development, mandates, and mask-wearing, blurring ethical lines.

Beyond Caution: The Party of Life

Extropic Thoughts • 39 implied HN points • 19 Apr 23
🔬 Science Technology Bioethics Transhumanism Metaphysical Evolutionary Psychology
  1. Transhumanists faced prominent intellectual threats in 2004 from individuals like Bill Joy, Leon Kass, and Francis Fukuyama.
  2. The Precautionary Principle and philosophical opposition reflected fears of going beyond human nature and the potential risks of advancing technologies.
  3. Advocates for technological progress emphasized the importance of embracing change, exploring positive futures, and respecting differing viewpoints while pursuing an ever-improving future.