The Moral Status of Artificial Life. (1st February 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baertschi, Bernard
• Is Part Of: Environmental values. Volume 21:Number 1(2012:Spring)
• Page Start: 5
• Page End: 18
• Publication Date: 2012-02-01
• Subjects: moral status -- intrinsic value -- artificial life -- moral responsibility; Environmental ethics -- Periodicals; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; 179.105
• DOI: 10.3197/096327112X13225063227907
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-2719

Abstract

Abstract : Recently at the J. Craig Venter Institute, a microorganism has been created through synthetic biology. In the future, more complex living beings will very probably be produced. In our natural environment, we live amongst a whole variety of beings. Some of them have moral status - they have a moral importance and we cannot treat them in just any way we please -; some do not. When it becomes possible to create artificially living beings who naturally possess moral status, will this artificiality modify their status? Many people contend that it will, but I am not of the same mind and will develop three arguments against it.