Genetic Democracy: Philosophical Perspectives (international Library Of Ethics, Law, And The New Medicine, 37)

GENETIC DEMOCRACY INTERNATIONAL LIBRARY OF ETHICS, LAW, AND THE NEW MEDICINE Founding Editors DAVID C. THOMASMA† DAVID N. WEISSTUB, Université de Montréal, Canada THOMASINE KIMBROUGH KUSHNER, University of California, Berkeley, U.S.A. Editor DAVID N. WEISSTUB, Université de Montréal, Canada Editorial Board TERRY CARNEY, University of Sydney, Australia MARCUS DÜWELL, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands SØREN HOLM, University of Cardiff, Wales,United Kingdom GERRIT K. KIMSMA, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands DAVID NOVAK, University of Toronto, Canada EDMUND D. PELLEGRINO, Georgetown University, Washington D.C., U.S.A. DOM RENZO PEGORARO, Fondazione Lanza and University of Padua, Italy DANIEL P. SULMASY, Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers, New York, U.S.A. LAWRENCE TANCREDI, New York University, New York, U.S.A. VOLUME 37 The titles published in this series are listed at the end of this volume. Genetic Democracy Philosophical Perspectives Edited by VEIKKO LAUNIS Turku, Finland and JUHA RÄIKKÄ Turku, Finland Editors Veikko Launis Turku Finland ISBN: 978-1-4020-6205-6 Juha Räikkä Turku Finland e-ISBN: 978-1-4020-6212-4 Library of Congress Control Number: 2007938314 c  2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Printed on acid-free paper. 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 springer.com Acknowledgements The editors are deeply indebted to the writers and collaborators who participated the Genetic Democracy Authors’ Meeting held in Turku, Finland, in August 2006. The majority of the papers included were originally presented as part of this meeting. Originally, the ideas discussed in this volume grew out of the research project Genetic Democracy: Social and Ethical Implications of Genetically Modified Organisms, directed by Juha Räikkä and funded by the Academy of Finland ESGEMO Research Programme. Editorial work makes great demands on secretarial and other practical services. In practical matters, we have been enormously assisted by many of our colleagues in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Turku. Special thanks are due to Kirsi Rajala, Minna Soini and Susanne Uusitalo. Finally, we are grateful to the Academy of Finland and Turku University Foundation which provided us the financial support to arrange the Authors’ Meeting in Turku. v Contents Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix Introduction: The Scope and Importance of Genetic Democracy . . . . . . . . . Veikko Launis 1 The Prerequisites for Genetic Democracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Helena Siipi 9 Ethical Expertise in Democratic Societies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Eerik Lagerspetz Towards Global Bioethics: The UNESCO Universal D