Review by Choice Review
Most likely, very few people are familiar with the terms "transhumanism" and "dystopia," including the many scientists whose findings form the foundation of each ideology. Transhumanism promotes the enhancement of human abilities using advanced methods such as biotechnology. It embraces technologies such as bionanotechnology, cloning, cryogenics, and genetic manipulation as a means for bettering human quality of life and wellness. Dystopia is a less optimistic view of the technologies transhumanists value. The dystopian ideology sees technology as the instrument of environmental pollution, human ailments, and societal collapse. Mehlman (Case Western Reserve Univ.; The Price of Perfection, CH, Dec'09, 47-2042) presents highly readable, unbiased, bioethical analyses that contrast ideological views of contemporary genetic engineering. The book begins with an evaluation of the transhumanist and dystopic views. It also investigates how emerging technologies related to genetic engineering continually mold the two viewpoints. The second part of the work investigates the risks of using genetic engineering for directing human evolution based on human desires. A discussion on risk management addresses the need for recommending unbiased policies for protecting children, human lineage, and "social cohesion" from the risks of human genetic modification and other medical technologies. Ample current references are provided at the end. Summing Up: Recommended. Academic and general readers, all levels. B. R. Shmaefsky Lone Star College - Kingwood
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
