If we could programme humans to be good (either through genetic engineering or by somehow programming the brain) should we do it? Will the transformed person be exercising free will? Would we want a society where everyone is genetically engineered or mentally programmed to be good? Give reasons for your response.
14 comments:
This is another case of doing things for the 'greater good'.
Brainwashing humans would be absolutely cruel, and it would definitely be morally wrong to impose our views forcefully upon others, but, if the end result is a one of a brighter picture, of a happier and more peaceful world, why not? Sacrifices would have to be made along the way of course.
This would be an extremely controversial topic and majority of the world would be against it.
But just imagining a world where there was no evil but just goodness? Soon people will start realizing that there's no point in indulging in crime and deviance when in the end a program will change their mind; humans would start to perform good deeds on impulse instead of the doings of a program.
So yes, I feel it's justifiable (to an extent, depending on how 'bad' the person is and whether there is no other option but to modify or programming his brain).
Yes, because in this way the world will become a peaceful, crime-free environment. Also, racial differences may not exist.
Aisha Bashir.
10g2.
No, I don't think genetically programming people to be 'good' is a very good idea. Firstly, because what IS good? If it's an American scientist, he'll probably consider bombarding defenceless countries 'good'! :P
Basically what I'm trying to imply is that there is no absolute idea of 'goodness' and it is developed as we go along! Every action and deed is considered 'good' because of the impact it has, and if we all do the same things then that effect will no longer be there. We appreciate kindness and righteousness because we know, that somewhere out there are people who aren't all that nice. And genetically modifying them will just rob humanity of that appreciation. This battle between 'good' and 'bad' is being fought since kingdom come, and the very fact that the 'good' STILL prevail is something for the human faith to marvel at. If we were to be programmed, then all our resilience, our conscience, our sense of wrong and right will VANISH. Because really, there would no longer BE any wrong or right; just a set of programmed commands to follow.
SO na-uh, I am completely against it. :)
I don't think it would be a good idea, that's pretty much brainwashing people, how you behave is your choice, yes some people aren't very nice, they might be racist or whatnot but it's still a personal choice. How you behave towards others is your choice. Personally, I believe that what goes around comes around. Even if a person's 'bad' or 'good' their morals shouldn't be tampered with. There's no such thing as a 'good' person, everyone has a bad side to them and you can't really avoid it. Every single one of us, whether we like it or not or whether we choose to deny it or accept it, we all have a mischievous streak. Plus, you cannot technically have 'good' humans without 'evil' ones, how would you define either if the other one doesn't exist?
-Nikol 10g2
Excellent, we would have ourselves a new brilliant world of peace and love. It's all we've ever wanted right? But to subject yourself to this 'programming', or let your children have it, gets people thinking. Just not being able to make simple moral choices and decisions seems... Robotic. There are plenty of other ways to ameliorate the world... Changing our genetics or fiddling with our brains isn't the way to do it.
There's such thing as doing something for 'the greater good' but if that means sacrificing our ability to make choices? Forget about it. Dehumanisation is a real word, and I cant think of a better context to use it in.
Ooooh touchy subject.
Yes, wouldn't it be a pretty picturesque perfect world if all of us walked around with halos on our heads?
As others have mentioned, how could you describe the ideal "good" if there were no "bad" in the first place?
True, we are all working towards a better society, but I dont think a society of "programmed humans" would be very appealing to anyone, you're practically taking away all the zest from life, I'm not saying that doing crimes is a great fun thing to do but since the dawn of time, father's have been killed for the throne, women have been raped by relatives, theft, kidnapping, pornography etc. With our free, modern minds of today, how can you assure that the power of the human mind will not find a way around brainwashing? There is no chance that it would be a full proof plan with no glitches at all.
Yes, it would result in crime rates and murderers and others to be reduced to a zilch but what about the millions who lose their jobs in maintaining law and order and the billions that lose their ability to think for themselves? Out of the six billion people present on this world, a majority of them will definately oppose this outrageous thought. What will the world leaders do then? Take people against their own free will and take away their power of exercising this will?
There are so many negative consequences in taking such a massive step to 'rectifying' the world and placing everyone in an everchanging idea of the ideal "good".
...meeeeeeeh.
I'm all for a peaceful, Utopic world and everything but I'd rather just have people choose to change of their own accord than have to brainwash them. And...well-
...
*whines* Sir, this is just evil of you.
I don't knoww ;; I want a peaceful, utopic world so bad, free of all malice and evil. It's my dream to see a world like this but to BRAINWASH someone into it is like... like making artificial chocolate! Intended for the benefit of everyone but morally wrong.
But what would this brainwashing entail? Drilling it into ones head over and over and over that they're sick, disgusting people who don't deserve to live unless they drastically change their ways or die in the most painful way possible or even lose their sanity? Because that's all I can think of right now.
And I know I've said stuff like this a lot of times myself but... ack, isn't that what we have law enforcement for? I mean, sure, we have a sightly flawed justice system but...
Again, I guess it all boils down to what kind of brainwashing methods they'll employ. Because if it has anything to do with torture then NO. Just. Point-black, straight off the bat, hit a hat trick CHAWKA no.
But how I'd love to see good prevail >: Sappy, yes, but I say this with all my heart.
This act is outrageous :0
Brainwashing or programming humans to be 'good'.
This basically transforms a human being into a a drone, a robot who does not have free will. Agreeing with what the others have said, how a person behaves is their choice. Each person has the right to think for themselves and act on their own accord - whether they may be good or bad; whichever race they may come from; scrambled, fried, or poached.
Besides, who will perform this 'good-ifying' of the said humans? People have different notions of what constitutes 'good'.Besides, the ability to reform and control how humans act comes with such great power and responsibility, and no doubt, everyone would be seduced by their own greed-they'd probably end up making these drones serve them. woahh. so we'd have a dictator and mindless people who arent capable of seeing what's going on.
Who will guard the guards?
..
Things only exist or are appreciated due to the existence of their complete opposite. Light is much appreciated because of darkness, money's significance is realized when we dont have any, and life is cherished because we all know that death shall creep upon us one day.
So if everything is sunshine and rainbows and unicorns, then what is there to appreciate? Perfection comes with a price. If everything is good and amazing, then 'good' and amazing cease to exist and end up becoming routine.
Then we lose the most interesting thing about humans = our differences.
I must completely agree with Faiza's and Nikol's answers for a number of reasons;
1) what is good?
Peoples expectations of what is considered "good" differs vastly among the globe. It is defined by culture, value and norms. And these exist discretely amongst our global society.
2)Brainwashing and Karma
Like Nikol and many others on this blog said, it is basically brainwashing. And what goes around comes around. People can continue to think and act upon their choices, everyone I think get's what they deserve at some point in life, weather it's something good or bad.
personally i think its a stupid idea, i mean if we can do wich we probably can it will effect the world.
all we have to do is just make the right choices in life and we can make the world a better place.
No I would not because if everyone is good than what would be named as bad? Stepping on peoples lawns?
Ok to answer the first question i'd say yes we probably should do it. Millions around the world are killed daily because of crime, besides being killed some are injured emotionally and physically. All of this can be avoided by programming everyones brain but i just can't imagine such a world,it seems absurd,too perfect. The person obviously won't be practicing free will,(well he or she probably thinks they're doing it because they actually are good),anyways i personally wouldn't like being chipped myself,not that i'm going to do anything wrong but i just wouldn't like it :P i wouldn't be thinking for myself anymore, i wouldn't be me, i'd practically be a robot. The only difference between humans and robots is that we can think for ourselves and if that was taken away from us would it really be a human society anymore?
Should we do it? No.
Will the transformed person be exercising free will? No.
Would we want a society where everyone is programmed to be good? Ofcourse.
We are only human and making mistakes are a part of our characteristic. We learn from them, don't we?
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