Ethical Examination of Genetic Enhancement from the Perspective of Confucian Human Dignity

With rapid advances in gene editing technology, the ethics of genetic enhancement has emerged as a prominent issue attracting scholarly attention. Many scholars express concern that genetic enhancement facilitated by gene editing may infringe on human dignity. Bioethicists remain divided on whether genetic enhancement violates human dignity and how effectively to safeguard it during the application of this technology. Confucian ethics offers a profound exploration of human dignity and can serve as a critical lens for assessing whether genetic enhancement technology compromises human dignity. This article explores the ethical implications of human genetic enhancement by reinterpreting the dual dimensions of the Confucian concept of dignity and its associated moral requirements. The Confucian perspective on dignity provides a valuable and unique approach to addressing ethical challenges in genetic enhancement technology.