Biological Functions and Biological Interests

Varner, Gary

doi:10.1111/j.2041-6962.1990.tb00545.x

Cited by 21 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…Varner agrees with the previously discussed authors that living beings have needs, and thus interests in a way that inanimate entities do not (Varner, 1990;1998: 64, 77). However, Varner considers functions to be the more appropriate criterion to describe interests of living organisms than goals, to which Taylor refers.…”

Section: Living Organisms Have Subsystems With Biological Functionssupporting

confidence: 78%

“…However, Varner considers functions to be the more appropriate criterion to describe interests of living organisms than goals, to which Taylor refers. Whereas goals tell something about the future of the respective entity, functions entail the aetiology of the system in question, and thus comprise information about its past (Varner, 1990;. X was adaptive for the organism's ancestors (Varner, 1990;1998: 67).…”

Section: Living Organisms Have Subsystems With Biological Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Whereas goals tell something about the future of the respective entity, functions entail the aetiology of the system in question, and thus comprise information about its past (Varner, 1990;. X was adaptive for the organism's ancestors (Varner, 1990;1998: 67). Biological functions are thus defined by an evolutionary origin.…”

Section: Living Organisms Have Subsystems With Biological Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Moral Impact of Synthesising Living Organisms: Biocentric Views on Synthetic Biology

Deplazes‐Zemp¹

2012

Environmental Values

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This essay examines how biocentric positions assess the aims and planned products of synthetic biology. In this emerging field, scientists and engineers aim at designing and producing new life forms by various procedures. In this paper I explore whether, for biocentrists, 1) synthetic organisms have moral standing and, 2) the process of synthesising living organisms has moral implications. Because naturalness plays a role in some biocentric theories, synthetic biology -at first sight -seems to challenge the idea that all living organisms have moral standing. However, according to the interpretations that I offer, the biocentric positions discussed here would also assign moral standing to synthetic organisms. That living organisms have moral standing does not necessarily imply that it is morally problematic to synthesise them. However, different lines of biocentric argumentation suggest that in designing and synthesising living organisms, the moral standing of the product needs to be taken into account. This means among other things, that according to biocentrists, such procedures may lead to special responsibilities or require certain attitudes from scientists towards their products. AbstractThis essay examines how biocentric positions assess the aims and planned products of synthetic biology. In this emerging field, scientists and engineers aim at designing and producing new life forms by various procedures. In this paper I explore whether, for biocentrists, 1) synthetic organisms have moral standing and, 2) the process of synthesising living organisms has moral implications. Because naturalness plays a role in some biocentric theories, synthetic biology -at first sight-seems to challenge the idea that all living organisms have moral standing.However, according to the interpretations that I offer, the biocentric positions discussed here would also assign moral standing to synthetic organisms.That living organisms have moral standing does not necessarily imply that it is morally problematic to synthesize them. However, different lines of biocentric argumentation suggest that in designing and synthesising living organisms, the moral standing of the product needs to be taken into account. This means among other things, that according to biocentrists, such procedures may lead to special responsibilities or require certain attitudes from scientists towards their products.

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Section: Living Organisms Have Subsystems With Biological Functionssupporting

confidence: 78%

Section: Living Organisms Have Subsystems With Biological Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Living Organisms Have Subsystems With Biological Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The Moral Impact of Synthesising Living Organisms: Biocentric Views on Synthetic Biology

Deplazes‐Zemp¹

2012

Environmental Values

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“…Une autre question concerne le débat entre monistes et pluralistes à propos des valeurs, et consiste à déterminer si toutes les valeurs se réduisent ultimement à une seule ou s'il existe plusieurs catégories de valeurs irréductibles les unes aux autres (ex. : Norton, 1995;Callicott, 1994;1990;Varner, 1991;Stone, 1988;1987). Cette problématique touche notamment l'enjeu de savoir jusqu'à quel point les considérations relevant de l'éthique des relations interhumaines, et celles relevant de Frierson, 2010;2007;Elliot, 1996;Callicott, 1995;1992a;1992b;Rolston, 1994;Miller, 1982).…”

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“…Finalement, une des questions d'éthique fondamentale qui a suscité le plus d'intérêt en éthique de l'environnement concerne la nature des notions de tort et de béné-fice et le type d'entités auxquelles ces notions peuvent s'appliquer (ex. : Varner, 1998;1990;Salthe et Salthe, 1989;Cahen, 1988;Taylor, 1986;Regan, 1983;Feinberg, 1974). Les réponses données à cette question ont des consé-quences directes sur la possibilité de reconnaître une considérabilité morale (Goodpaster, 1993;1979;1978) aux animaux sensibles, aux êtres vivants non conscients et aux touts écologiques comme les communautés et les écosystèmes.…”

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