Machine metaphors and ethics in synthetic biology

Abstract

The extent to which machine metaphors are used in synthetic biology is striking. These metaphors contain a specific perspective on organisms as well as on scientific and technological progress. Expressions such as “genetically engineered machine”, “genetic circuit”, and “platform organism”, taken from the realms of electronic engineering, car manufacturing, and information technology, highlight specific aspects of the functioning of living beings while at the same time hiding others, such as evolutionary change and interdependencies in ecosystems. Since these latter aspects are relevant for, for example, risk evaluation of uncontained uses of synthetic organisms, it is ethically imperative to resist the thrust of machine metaphors in this respect. In addition, from the perspective of the machine metaphor viewing an entity as a moral agent or patient becomes dubious. If one were to regard living beings, including humans, as machines, it becomes difficult to justify ascriptions of moral status. Finally, the machine metaphor reinforces beliefs in the potential of synthetic biology to play a decisive role in solving societal problems, and downplays the role of alternative technological, and social and political measures.

Synthetic biology in the German press: how implications of metaphors shape representations of morality and responsibility

“…The criticism applies both to Keller’s (2002) seminal book on metaphors and models used in biology and to an article by Boudry and Pigliucci (2013), which provides an interesting, critical and historical investigation of engineering metaphors in SynBio without developing a basic notion of metaphor. The section on metaphor and worldviews in Boldt’s (2016) edited volume follows a comparable rationale: the philosophical analyses undertaken here are interesting but a closer engagement with the theories of metaphor would have probably added precision to the ethical assessment of SynBio.…”

“…This article aims to methodologically and empirically complement existing philosophical and bioethical reflections in the areas of biotechnological innovation, biomedical developments (Nordgren 1998), systems biology (Döring et al 2015), synthetic biology (Boldt 2016), and science and technology studies (Komduur et al 2009). It differs from this literature insofar as it proposes a novel practical approach for studying metaphorical mapping processes from an ethical point of view.…”

Living Machines: Metaphors We Live By

“…While the actual work that goes on in synbio laboratories varies widely, an idealised engineering vision has become important to the field's identity (34,30]. This entails that engineering means standardisation of components, decoupling of a project into smaller parts that can then be assembled, and reduction of the messy complexity of life to a level at which it can be controlled and useful [31].…”

From Buzz to Burst—Critical Remarks on the Term ‘Life’ and Its Ethical Implications in Synthetic Biology

“…It is currently adverted that machine and engineering metaphors in synthetic biology are hiding alternative evolutionary or ecological metaphors. Hence, alternative technological and social developments in relation to synthetic biology are also 'downplayed' [21]. These metaphors depictagain-how synthetic biology touches culturally and normatively charged and deeply rooted distinctions of living and not living matter (see 'Life Is Not Life: Aristotle's Wide Concept of Life and the Current Condensation of Modern Thinking in Synthetic Biology').…”

“…In this view, they are seen as ciphers on the surface of societal discourses which refer to a deeper sociocultural dimension in the debate on synthetic biology including fear and 'Unbehagen' (discontent) [96] and the symptoms of a crisis of natural sciences ( [27], pp. [19][20][21][22][23].…”