Equality of Access to Enhancement Technology in a Posthumanist Society

Abstract

The possibility and justification of genetic manipulations (like other forms of enhancements, such as implants, prosthesis and transgenesis) leading to increase our human capabilities creates problems relating to human rights and equality in a future society. I analyze prohibitionist and favorable positions to enhancements implementation, but I try to show the feasibility of a third position taking as basis the Rawlsian ideas of primary goods and the difference principle that would allow in a first phase an open access to genetic enhancements. In a second step, given some circumstances, these enhancements could be considered as compulsory.