Technology and the world of tomorrow, a split society between those genetically enhanced to be stronger and smarter, and those born without enhancements, what is there to complain about?

With luck, we won’t be around to see it.

Well, one hopes that the science fiction writers would also be enhanced…

You can’t improve on perfection.

Those damn rapidly mutating super infectious antibiotic resistant superbugs!

It would be unnatural and unfair and maybe unwise.

Eugenics, despite being popular and adopted into law in various places a hundred years ago, has been frowned upon since World War II.

Why, as a matter of policy, would people think that creation of a master caste be palatable to free people?

How long until you get master race humans who start justifying discriminating, enslaving, or even killing and exterminating “lower humans”? How long until you get a new flavour of nazism or caste system?

Look at how we perceive animals. Now imagine yourself being perceived as evolutionary lower being. In fact, you don’t have to. Just go to India and ask anyone from the lower caste.

Also, genetic engineering is not natural selection. There is nothing natural in crafting a child by your own likings.

It all looks great when you are the “enhanced” one, but look it from a perspective of the other side, where the “less fortunate” dwell.

@flutherother It would be unnatural and unfair and maybe unwise.
Is it fair that we humans who if not for our intelligence would be running around hiding like rabbits just to survive can slaughter more powerful, larger, and faster mammals by the thousands because we are smart enough to create methods of defense or tools to best the savage beasts?

@zenvelo Why, as a matter of policy, would people think that creation of a master caste be palatable to free people?
Being unfashionable is to not be pragmatically logical due to emotions. It might be those who are smarter and stronger will swoop those less than into a better age on their coat tails, is that not what was thought when conquering the Native Americans or indigenous people elsewhere?

@Sneki95 How long until you get master race humans who start justifying discriminating, enslaving, or even killing and exterminating “lower humans”? How long until you get a new flavour of nazism or caste system?
If the non-enhanced humans became outnumbered to the point of not having sufficient numbers to protect themselves, then maybe they should disappear, but seeing it will be out of the reach of most humans unless the cost came way down, they will not have much to worry about.

Also, genetic engineering is not natural selection.
Because man would have had a hand in it? If animals were able to make themselves more superior or efficient, you do not think they would make use of that advantage?

”... is that not what was thought when conquering the Native Americans or indigenous people elsewhere? Yes, and that is considered a racist viewpoint now.

@Hypocrisy_Central
Oh, so the ones who are weaker or not developed enough should die. Ok…...

I’ve nothing to say.

May you have a nice day, and keep your words in mind, especially when you become weak and “non-enhanced.”

There is something chilling about the prospect of designing children the way we design buildings. They become products. One could argue that part of our humanness comes from our faults. What happens when we root out these faults to create a better product? What kinds of monsters might we end up with? Corporate executives tend to be higher on the psychopath scale. Is this what we want?

There is something else to consider. What if something goes wrong? Suppose that there is a shortage of engineers and the parents design their children to be inclined toward engineering. What happens if we then get a glut of such people? When the children grow up, engineers may no longer be in such high demand.

How many parents would want their children to enter the acting profession? Although some actors get huge amounts of money, most do not do very well. Would genetic engineering mean the end of actors? What about other types of artists?

::shrug::

I don’t see the problem. Genetics are a bitch. I’m sitting here in excruciating pain because two days ago I took my kid to a theme park for his birthday, and my genetically-acquired foot deformity has not forgiven me for it.

Can we please come up with a way to do away with genetically-carried flaws so they stop being passed on? Because I wouldn’t wish this pain on anyone.

There are already people who are faster/stronger/more intelligent. I don’t see Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Lasha Talakhadze, and Stephen Hawking trying to take over the world. And I don’t see any of us lamenting we’re not as whatever as they are.

Like most human-created problems, it’ll likely go tits up in a few years when people realise that nature requires nurture to be useful, otherwise you get people like my friend Billy who is nearly 7 feet tall and built like an ox, but is completely the opposite of athletic.

Many today are genetically advantaged. They have attributes such as intelligence and physical prowess that is above average that often enables them to be social and athletic leaders. It seems to me that should the genetic enhancement of such characteristics for a select (wealthy) group occur, their ability to exploit others would be only marginally improved.

The struggle between “superior” people to secure wealth and power has always been a source for wars between nations and now corporations. Their contests may become more sophisticated and the adverse consequences to the majority increased, but this appears to be happening without genetic manipulation. The core problems facing the human race arise from genetic predilections that govern all animal life that without which their survival would be compromised.

Civilization has long sought to find ways to inhibit people’s animal instincts and foster more altruism by establishing rewards and punishments secular and religious for behaviors. Unfortunately, the power of human instincts has invariably led to the corruption of their attempts. Genetic manipulation has the potential to improve health and longevity. However, unless enhanced intellect leads to wisdom and self-restraint the impetus to control territory and its resources (including labor) will continue with joy limited to the few in power.

@Sneki95 Oh, so the ones who are weaker or not developed enough should die. Ok…...
From a purely pragmatically logical world, if they cannot keep up, they would not survive and no one should shed a tear. When a lion gets too old to hunt and protect his pride, he is moved aside.

@LostInParadise They become products.
They will still be people, and 100% human.

There is something else to consider. What if something goes wrong? Suppose that there is a shortage of engineers and the parents design their children to be inclined toward engineering.
That is a non-existent problem, as one can make a child smarter, more intelligent, etc. but how they use that intelligence could be in a wide variety of areas, astrophysics, rocket science, botany, mathematics, etc.

Would genetic engineering mean the end of actors? What about other types of artists?
Just as you had Shaolin Monks who were fierce warriors but poets, artist, sculptors, etc. I do not think higher intelligent beings would lose creativity, and if they did to a point, it would just mean those who did that were of average intelligence.

@Hypocrisy_Central Many things are not fair in nature because fairness is a human concept. We could go hunting wild elephants in Africa by night with Apache helicopters but we don’t as our sense of morality intervenes. Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should.

^ We could go hunting wild elephants in Africa by night with Apache helicopters but we don’t as our sense of morality intervenes.
Some might find hunting them down with an Apache helicopter or an RPG to be moral as to end the suffering quicker before harvesting the tusk or whatever, if the elephant cannot adapt to outwitting the hunter…..well…..

Some might but most feel it is time to protect wild animals rather than kill them.

It’s going to change human society beyond recognition. Something to look forward to if you are one of the 1% owning two thirds of the world’s wealth, not a lot to look forward to if you’re one of the other 99%.