Official Review: The New Eugenics by Conrad B. Quintyn
Posted: 24 Feb 2021, 07:08
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The New Eugenics" by Conrad B. Quintyn.]
The New Eugenics by Conrad B. Quintyn is a non-fiction book that shows ordinary readers the current state of "eugenics" worldwide. The author discusses the most diverse sub-themes that include cloning, in vitro fertilization, genome editing, self-controlled reproduction, transhumanism, and so forth. The book provides examples of past events that have already occurred, such as cloning Dolly the sheep, and conjures up future possibilities that include the rebirth of extinct species such as the saber-toothed tiger.
The central premise is that "the new eugenics" has the potential to resurrect the "old eugenics" and stigmatize individuals mentally, racially, and physically. The problem is that humanity had seen catastrophes of biblical proportions when "well-intentioned" men tried to play God and create a perfect and just world. Conrad is a competent man who, in addition to having a Ph.D., presents his mastery over the topic in question and proposes several philosophical questions when he quotes intellectuals like Nick Bostrom, Robert Nozick, and Ronald Dworkin.
The most remarkable thing about this book is that the author used only scientific and logical arguments to criticize the "new eugenics." As much as some moral objections stem from religious values, the author wrote the book with the right approach. As much as religion is essential and I am a Christian, a scientist must make it clear to humanity the risk that these new technologies pose to society. By adopting this approach, Conrad tends to convince more people and find allies in the scientific community. That's what I liked the most.
It is hard to find anything dislikeable about this book. Even so, I can't entirely agree with everything that the author says. In general terms, I agree that one must be careful when using this technology. However, in some parts of the book, Conrad says that some technological advances may be available only to those who are too rich to pay. So what? Is it better that no one can be cured of Alzheimer's disease than just a small portion of the population? Why couldn't the American government, which has spent trillions of dollars on useless wars in the Middle East, use these resources to make this technology available for free to the population? Although I beg to differ, I understand that his reasoning line is valid, and I do not consider it a flaw.
After considering all aspects, I gladly rate The New Eugenics four out of four stars. It's addictive, insightful, and witty. After more than 400 pages, I only found some minor subjective errors. The editing was properly done. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject of eugenics. The reader should only be careful because the content is not easy to digest, and you must have some scientific background before you start reading this work.
******
The New Eugenics
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The New Eugenics by Conrad B. Quintyn is a non-fiction book that shows ordinary readers the current state of "eugenics" worldwide. The author discusses the most diverse sub-themes that include cloning, in vitro fertilization, genome editing, self-controlled reproduction, transhumanism, and so forth. The book provides examples of past events that have already occurred, such as cloning Dolly the sheep, and conjures up future possibilities that include the rebirth of extinct species such as the saber-toothed tiger.
The central premise is that "the new eugenics" has the potential to resurrect the "old eugenics" and stigmatize individuals mentally, racially, and physically. The problem is that humanity had seen catastrophes of biblical proportions when "well-intentioned" men tried to play God and create a perfect and just world. Conrad is a competent man who, in addition to having a Ph.D., presents his mastery over the topic in question and proposes several philosophical questions when he quotes intellectuals like Nick Bostrom, Robert Nozick, and Ronald Dworkin.
The most remarkable thing about this book is that the author used only scientific and logical arguments to criticize the "new eugenics." As much as some moral objections stem from religious values, the author wrote the book with the right approach. As much as religion is essential and I am a Christian, a scientist must make it clear to humanity the risk that these new technologies pose to society. By adopting this approach, Conrad tends to convince more people and find allies in the scientific community. That's what I liked the most.
It is hard to find anything dislikeable about this book. Even so, I can't entirely agree with everything that the author says. In general terms, I agree that one must be careful when using this technology. However, in some parts of the book, Conrad says that some technological advances may be available only to those who are too rich to pay. So what? Is it better that no one can be cured of Alzheimer's disease than just a small portion of the population? Why couldn't the American government, which has spent trillions of dollars on useless wars in the Middle East, use these resources to make this technology available for free to the population? Although I beg to differ, I understand that his reasoning line is valid, and I do not consider it a flaw.
After considering all aspects, I gladly rate The New Eugenics four out of four stars. It's addictive, insightful, and witty. After more than 400 pages, I only found some minor subjective errors. The editing was properly done. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject of eugenics. The reader should only be careful because the content is not easy to digest, and you must have some scientific background before you start reading this work.
******
The New Eugenics
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
