November 21, 2019

Yes, We’re Animals: Why We Should Face Up to That Now

In an age of new biotechnologies, from gene-editing to neural enhancement, is there a tension in the idea that humans have special value because they’re somehow different or exceptional in nature? Dwelling on the idea that there’s something extraordinary about being human – and ignoring our kinship with life on our planet – is becoming a problem, says Melanie Challenger, an award-winning British writer and a member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics who has been a visiting scholar at The Hastings Center in November. Read more.

In Search of Authentic Public Engagement

Hastings Center research scholar Karen Maschke questioned recent calls in the ethics world for public engagement, enhanced governance, and greater transparency regarding technological innovation. “Making the calls is easy,” Maschke said, but taking action means disrupting existing centers of power, and requires hearing a multitude of challenges to the underpinnings of innovation. She spoke at a panel entitled “50 Years of Bioethics – Reflections from The Hastings Center” at the Prim*r conference this week. Hastings Center president Mildred Z. Solomon moderated the panel. Read more .

Hastings Center Launches Appeal After a Year of Tumultuous Global Ethics

Technology has allowed the creation of the world’s first gene-edited babies, while artificial intelligence emerged as a force that can read our emotions and manipulate our choices. The aging crisis has accelerated, with the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia set to double in the next 20 years—most will not be able to pay for their needs. Inequality is stretching our society to the breaking point. Trust in institutions and civility in public discourse are at new lows, creating even more challenges for solving these problems. The Hastings Center is working on these issues, but needs help. Support our work.

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