Environment

NYU Bioethicist Makes Case for ‘Human Engineering’ to Curb Manmade Global Warming

Most ideas to help mitigate so called manmade global warming involve changing habits or how we use products, such as increasing energy efficiency of electronics, reducing dependence on gasoline by switching to battery powered vehicles or something as simple as making the choice to go meatless on Mondays.

Bioethicist Believes Human Engineering Could Reduce Manmade Global Warming

Matthew Liao (Photo: NYU)

But a New York University philosophy and bioethics professor, who believes humans are the cause of global warming, wants to take it right to the source: the genetics of humanity itself. Matthew Liaoof NYU and two Oxford co-authors (Anders Sandberg and Rebecca Roache) are making the case for several ideas that they believe are less risky solutions to global warming compared to other ideas, such as geothermal engineering.

(Related: Ethicists argue in favor of ‘after-birth abortions‘ as newborns ’are not persons’)

Their argument was presented in the academic journal Ethics, Policy and the Environment in February. The authors explicitly describe the idea as “human engineering,“ or the ”biomedical modification of humans so that they can mitigate and/or adapt to climate change.” It should be noted, that the authors are not stating that this sort of engineering should be adopted, but they merely want to make the case for it “alongside other solutions in the debate about how to solve the problem of climate change.” If human engineering were ever to be truly considered as an option, the authors state it should be voluntary with the potential for tax breaks as an incentive.

One of these ideas would be literally engineering humans to have shorter statures. For the past 150 years, the human race has been growing taller. In industrialized nations, the average height has increased by about 10 centimeters. Liao makes the argument that if humans were genetically engineered to be shorter, it would reduce their consumption of goods and subsequent effect on the environment — often known as the carbon footprint:

Human ecological footprints are partly correlated with our size. We need a certain amount of food and nutrients to maintain each kilogram of body mass.

[...]

As well as needing to eat more, larger people also consume more energy in less obvious ways. For example, a car uses more fuel per mile to carry a heavier person than a lighter person [...]

The group suggests use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis to “select” for children that would be shorter or use a hormone to help control height during development.

Bioethicist Believes Human Engineering Could Reduce Manmade Global Warming

Sultan Kosen of Turkey is the world's tallest man. He must have to eat a lot to maintain energy at his 8 feet 3 inches.

Another proposed idea is “pharmacological” therapies to “enhance and improve our moral decisions by making us more altruistic and empathetic.” Those who have these qualities would be more apt to make environmentally conscious decisions, according to the authors. The Atlantic’s Ross Andersen recently interviewed Liao about human engineering and pushed him on several points in the Q&A, including this one. Andersen writes:

To me this one seems like it might be the most troubling. Isn’t it more problematic to do biological tinkering to produce a belief, rather than simply engineering humans so that they are better equipped to implement their beliefs?

Liao responded with:

Yes. It’s certainly ethically problematic to insert beliefs into people, and so we want to be clear that‘s not something we’re proposing. What we have in mind has more to do with weakness of will. For example, I might know that I ought to send a check to Oxfam, but because of a weakness of will I might never write that check. But if we increase my empathetic capacities with drugs, then maybe I might overcome my weakness of will and write that check.

Another example of engineering proposed by the group is creating a red meat intolerance. While some people have already begun following a practice of eating less red meat for a variety of reasons, one of which could be help curb emissions associated with bovine rearing, the authors state that there is still a lack of “motivation and willpower” to give red meat up. Liao et al proposes creating patches, similar to nicotine patches, to stimulate a negative immune response against bovine proteins:

The immune system would then become primed to react to such proteins, and henceforth eating ‘eco-unfriendly’ food would induce unpleasant experiences. Even if the effects do not last a lifetime, the learning effect is likely to persist for a long time.

In addition to reiterating some of the techniques to “engineer” humans to help reduce emissions by altering their very nature, Andersen also delves into ethical questions with Liao. For example, how is it ethical for parents to choose to irreversibly make their children shorter? Liao says there is a difference between “selection” and “modification.” In the Atlantic, he is reported as saying “with selection you don‘t really have the issue of irreversible choices because the embryo selected can’t complain that she could have been otherwise — if the parents had selected a different embryo, she wouldn’t have existed at all.”

Andersen also calls Liao on a point in the paper stating that human engineering could be “liberty enhancing.” Liao explains saying that suggestions for a one-child policy, like that in China, have been made to curb global warming. Liao said:

From our perspective that would be more liberty enhancing than a policy that says “you can only have one or two children.” A family might want a really good basketball player, and so they could use human engineering to have one really large child.

In the authors’ original article, they also cover why they think human engineering should be taken seriously as well as potential ethical and safety concerns with the concept. Read more about those thoughts in the full paper here. Andersen also has more in a Q&A with Liao that is worth a full read here.

[H/T Gizmodo]

Comments (147)

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  • rationallyurs
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:19pm

    hitler made these type of decisions–did not work so well—-but if we tested the theory on the white house–I would be for it

    Report Post »  
    • Leopold
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 6:19pm

      Scientists are called crazy for a reason.

      Report Post »  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 6:48pm

      lets start with HIS kids

      then we could continue with the liberals and the progressives next ……………..limit them to 0 kids and only one dog

      that should fix the climate change/ warming / cooling / hot air issue in just a few generations

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • Grey Eagle
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 8:41pm

      You have a point. This so called scientist is another left wing radical loon like Obama.

      Report Post »  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 9:01pm

      LOL
      And they want to tell us they are the arbiters of reason!
      ROTFLMAO
      And they call us crazy for believing in God.

      You first!
      I find my large body a gift from God.
      I can carry heavy things. I can aid those who need help.
      I can reach high things.

      ????????????????????
      ♫ Tall people got no reason to live ♫
      ????????????????????

      These paid self promoters who spend our money, to self- justify why they should continue to be entitled to keep taking our money!!! Sheesh!!

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • Nehemiah6.3
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 9:29pm

      This world is really screwed up. People are out of their minds.What has happened? I feel like i just walked into a nightmare and can’t wake up.

      Report Post » Nehemiah6.3  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 10:02pm

      They say a little bit of knowledge is dangerous. Well Mathew Liao only has a little bit of knowledge.
      There is this concept called plasticity. People’s height is determined by genetics, the size of their mother & foood while growing up.

      It has been pointed out that the Dutch were the shortest people 4 centuries ago & now are Europe’s tallest. there genetics hasn’t change as so much that they have become wealthier & have more food
      In Japan each succeeding generation has grown an inch a generation. the genetics of the population really hasn’t change. Japanese officers in WWII were usually shorter than their men. the cause was the sever physical regimen 7 food restriction placed on them to make them tough.

      So all the liberals like Cass Sunsteen or Mathew Liao have to do is restrict food by making it more expensive 7 they will get shorter Americans. There have been reports of many homeless children living out of their families cars, etc. It looks like the progressives are succeeding.

      http://courses.washington.edu/bioa101/articles/article38.pdf

      Discover Magazine February 1998 pages 40-44

      “A correlation of +.70 between children’s physical height and their popularity ”
      http://www.nniland.com/…/Midterm%20MC%20Review.pdf

      Leftists = morons

      Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on March 14, 2012 at 11:23am

      I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so.

      Eugenics “IS” fundamental and foundational to “Bioethics”. It’s what bioethics means. An ethical way to control (human) life.

      Yeah, sure, I know it started out as an ‘animal rights’ proposition. But guess what? it’s really not!

      “Believe” a communist progressive at their word at your own peril.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • 4truth2all
      Posted on March 14, 2012 at 12:44pm

      Yo Mr. Liao:

      We are already “engineered” …I believe it is called created ..I know that’s a wacky idea to someone as intellegent as you.

      Report Post »  
    • oldguy99
      Posted on March 17, 2012 at 9:49pm

      We have test=tube babies,dezigner babies through DNA. Hitler had Joseph Mengele Jr. doing the same thing, bioethics eugenics. this is the same thing in a new package. Why do we condem Adolf Hitler but do the same thing but call it something different?

      Report Post »  
    • schlitten15
      Posted on March 18, 2012 at 11:52am

      I’m with you. Start in the White House first and we shall see. Big Brothers wants complete control over the population. What? In ten years we all walk around and act like zombies, huh?

      Report Post »  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:18pm

    These freaks need to be locked up in a mental hospital.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
    • amdoktor
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:26pm

      heintelhub.com/2012/03/13/the-vaccine-police-state-exposed-know-your-rights/
      They are proposing everyone get vaccines, worldwide// read article above// This Is another Unconstitutional idea by the UN and our Administration.

      Report Post » amdoktor  
    • flyoverbob
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:46pm

      I think this one is in a mental institution

      Report Post »  
    • SgtB
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 10:16pm

      Agreed.

      Also, anyone believing that eating red meat is bad for the environment is a complete nut. I well understand that cattle produce methane, but so does EVERY OTHER ANIMAL ON THE PLANET! Also, cows can survive off of grain alone whereas humans will not. Also, if we adopt using bison, then they can survive on grasses alone which means that we can feed more people on less valuable and more arid land.

      This climate BS has gone too far. If NASA… oh, sorry, I forgot that NASA is a dieing organization. If ANYONE wants to send an advance party to Mars to live and work out their days in solitude, I’ll volunteer for that position right now. But, be forewarned, I might just take over the whole damn planet for myself.

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • NancyBee
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 11:53pm

      Pinch me …when this nightmare is over…….

      Report Post » NancyBee  
  • JACKTHETOAD
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:17pm

    Bioethics? This guy’s thinking is completely devoid of ethics. Mengele Jr.

    Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
    • piper60
      Posted on March 14, 2012 at 1:55am

      let’s srrt with the obvious reality that global warming is a fraud. There ain’t no such animal, so coercive “solutions”are unnecessary.

      Report Post » piper60  
  • Jackie Rogers, Jr.
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:16pm

    That sounds incredible doctor.
    Not at all Mr. President. Even the most complicated formulations can easily be solved with the aid of a compuuuuter. Ha………ha………..Mein Fuhrer, I can walk!
    Boom! Cue the music.

    Or something like that. Anyway that’s who this guy reminds me of.

    Report Post » Jackie Rogers, Jr.  
    • InversionTheory
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 6:10pm

      Classic! But we must consider the effect on our Precious Bodily Fluids before taking any actions.

      Report Post »  
    • Jackie Rogers, Jr.
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 6:51pm

      That goes without saying. If people are smaller, they will have less Prescious Bodily Fluids. Men, for example, will not avoid women, but will have to deny them their essence.

      Report Post » Jackie Rogers, Jr.  
  • Popp40
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:13pm

    So basically this guy is trying to create a population that they can control not only physically (by keeping them small) but mentally as well! Come on people they are trying to bread slaves that they can control!

    People wake up…..

    Report Post »  
  • ginger100
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:08pm

    Brave New World

    Report Post » ginger100  
    • MammalOne
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 8:17pm

      Exactly what I thought of. Actually, the part about it being voluntary with monetary compensation literally gave me chills. Chapter 1 of BNW:

      “The operation undergone voluntarily for the good of Society, not to mention the fact that it carries a bonus amounting to six months’ salary.”

      No longer science fiction.

      Report Post » MammalOne  
    • crabbyoldman
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 11:14pm

      Scared new world. Orwell’s 1984 would be a haven.

      Report Post »  
  • loiloi
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:05pm

    WARNING – I have received 3 trojan horse infections from different parts of Blaze [intercepted by anti-viral software].

    Report Post »  
    • Mark0331
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:08pm

      Thought that was happening….probably anonymous…stay vigilant.

      Report Post » Mark0331  
    • Onowicit
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 7:27pm

      what part of the blaze? what were the Trojans called?

      Report Post » Onowicit  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 11:24pm

      LOILOI: I ahve had problems from all of the conservative sites I go on. My new computer is doing the same thing my old one did before it crashed. My screen freezes and I have to shut it down and reboot it. I can not go to some of the sites at all sometimes. I think big brother is blocking me. I used to think folks were being paranoid but I am begining to understand where they are coming from. I get allot of very strange emails and when I try to send someone onFB an article they get porn instead. It is frustrating.

      Report Post » pamela kay  
    • do_it_all_again
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 12:25am

      it could be that the blaze is allowing so many companies to track you on here too,
      ive blocked 18 tracking sites and 16 advertising sites just on this page alone, if you
      have firefox, get the adons “do not track plus” and adblock plus.
      i dont know if it will help against all “viruses” but im sure some are piggy backed on some of
      these trackers.

      Report Post »  
    • do_it_all_again
      Posted on March 15, 2012 at 12:27am

      sorry for the double post ,, but i have found the adons have helped to increase the page loading and browser speed also, by blocking a lot of the unwanted trash

      Report Post »  
  • TH30PH1LUS
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:03pm

    Matthew Liao and Anders Sandberg and Rebecca Roache ought to be regarded as a danger to society. This global warming cult has sucked the humanity out of them, leaving an intellectual husk devoid of soul. Utter godless nonsense. In another era, this sort of thinking would have been used as a comedy routine. But these 3 are serious.

    Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
  • PoliticalTs.com
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:02pm

    These types of thoeries have been debated for thousands of years, for one reason or another, and they always lead to the same thing. Massive death of the so-called, undesirables. What they are really talking about is getting rid of people who are not like them.

    THIS IS GENOCIDE!!!! Plain and simple.

    Report Post »  
  • ThePostman
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:01pm

    This is *not* something that, by definition, must be done unethically – we can merely provide tax breaks and incentives for lots of short people to reproduce. You don’t have to kill off the bad genes to get rid of them over time – you merely need to dilute them with a surplus of desirable genes. I have already proposed a similar idea to NASA – a lot of the cost of human spaceflight centers around the weight of the human being. We need much much smaller people, plus, imagine how much more awe-inspiring the grand canyon would be to 1 foot tall humans, lol!

    Report Post »  
    • pierrepierre
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:13pm

      Should we withhold contraception from short people also, and supply it at no cost to big, tall, heat emanating behemoths – thereby reducing the number “large wasters”? should we consider increasing taxes on these oversize consumers – kind of a “fat” tax!

      Report Post »  
    • ThePostman
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 9:08pm

      Sure, plus, it would be fun to watch them like bunnies, and I am sure they would be just as adorable and cute!

      Not to mention that we would not need nuclear weapons to kill millions of them if they get out of line – a simple black cat firecracker would do the job.

      Report Post »  
    • ThePostman
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 9:09pm

      Oh interesting, if you type , Blaze takes the word and brackets out. LOL!

      Report Post »  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:01pm

    As soon as I saw the part of the story, “he believes humans cause global warming”…that’s when there is no more reason to read further. Stupid, lost, progressive, liberal, godless morons selling their fantasies. No different than George Bernard Shaw.

    Report Post »  
  • chameleonx
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:00pm

    Whatever happens to the Earth life should be able to adapt (natural selection aka. evolution) to its environment to survive. Genetic engineering is kind of risky in my opinion.

    Report Post »  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 6:14pm

      The ”biomedical modification of humans so that they can mitigate and/or adapt to climate change.”?

      What nonsense. Neolithic humans adapted to every climate on the planet — and even the most dire predictions of climate change do not anticipate a climate in which humans cannot thrive — even with stone age technology. In the 21st century “Man the Toolmaker” can make the adaptations required. No doubt about it

      Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:00pm

    One more case of the progressives trying to make population control and mass murder look ‘humane and desirable’ across the world.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Micmac
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:58pm

    1st: Prove that there is man-made global warming to a degree that has relevent impact. Still hasn’t been done.
    2: Bio-engineering? Ethics in there somewhere? Bio-engineering is on the list of required items today to have the perfect utopian society. I think there are better countries well suited to your needs.
    3rd: Vying for your 15 miutes?

    This gentleman (kid) is what a progressive education buys today.

    NoBama 2012

    Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:58pm

    After birth abortion, engineering fetuses, mind control with drugs………everything these people come up with are against God.
    To them people are nothing more than lab rats.

    Report Post »  
  • goahead.makemyday
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:57pm

    I can see where in certain situations gene modifications would be good like say down syndrome, or genetic predilection for stroke or heart attack. Or when we go to space to colonize new worlds with varying ecosystems(part sarc part not) But for this stuff? Really now not to mention our tech hasn’t gotten past basic gene therapy, much less the level these academics are talking about.

    Report Post » goahead.makemyday  
  • TheBurningTruth
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:56pm

    Note the part about implanting beliefs and defining the “moral” position of people to select for “altruism”. This is code for more liberal thinking people. Just wait until some “green” company gets a hold of this. With a few billion of money from Barry, they’ll be setting up camps and special hospitals in a blink of an eye. Anything to get more liberal voters to maintain their power.

    Report Post » TheBurningTruth  
  • cookcountypatriot
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:55pm

    just what the world needs ….more progressive freaks

    Report Post » cookcountypatriot  
  • The_Jerk
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:52pm

    He’s just tired of being the shortest human in the room!

    Report Post »  
  • RJJinGadsden
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:52pm

    I get this creepy feeling that this guy’s idea of human engineering when combined with this or a similar administration it will more or less become the eugenics experiments all over again. Frankly, their definitions sound eerily similar anyway.

    Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • lukerw
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:51pm

    Supply & Demand… dictates… that to Reduce Consumption… one must Reduce Demand… thereby Terminate some Demanders! This is where Socialist Thinking always leads: Eugenics and now BioEthics!

    This guy is a Holocaust Provocateur!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • youdidthis
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:50pm

    remember these people…
    they were allowed to live and thrive, now we are in their sick twisted world.

    they are in charge of our meds, food and water.

    Report Post »  
  • elosogrande
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:50pm

    Tell Dr. Mengele to get back in his grave. There is no room for The Angel of Death in America.
    What garbage – and you can bet that this guy’s livelyhood come from government grants, paid for by The American Taxpayers! This is how our government ****** away the future of our country.

    Idiots all!

    Report Post »  
    • pierrepierre
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:56pm

      but think of this! we can program away all of the socialists!

      Report Post »  
    • Mark0331
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:06pm

      Pierre…The right education and hard work with accomplishment does that…you are too funny though, I know facetious when I see it…you are twisted, but funny!!

      Report Post » Mark0331  
  • pierrepierre
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:48pm

    Human engineering responsibility should be handed over to Apple – so that only the most user friendly, multi faceted, pleasing children can be promoted to ensure the future of personkind!

    Report Post »  
  • Mark0331
    Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:42pm

    Dr. Mengele thought the same way…

    Report Post » Mark0331  
    • pierrepierre
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 4:53pm

      You’ve obviously never had children or teen agers. We could program these folks to clean their rooms, listen to our every word and agree with everything we say, take out the garbage, wash the car, get a’s in school, never get pregnant, eventually never go to college, never drive or smoke……the list is endless!

      Report Post »  
    • Mark0331
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 5:01pm

      Hey Pierre, never ‘suppose or assume’ anything about me…secondly, I know you are kidding…funny.

      Report Post » Mark0331  
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