On the impact of technology and globalisation on reproductive ethics

• Ethics, mores, and policies in the field of reproduction and parenting have an impact on how, by whom, and for whom reproductive technologies are developed, used, desired or recommended. In return, changes in societies, caused by globalisation and the spread of technologies into the process of formation of families (as well as other elements, depending on the case), have led to what some call the "crisis" of the family. I propose to look into this interaction between technology, globalisation, ethics, mores and policies, and to point to some of the ways in which they have influenced each other, and in particular to some of the ways in which technologies (such as gamete donation, embryo transfer, SCNT, the creation of synthetic gametes etc.) demand the reformulation of arguments in reproductive ethics and policy (such as the potentiality argument, regulations according to which birth mothers receive legal recognition as mothers of the newly born etc.). One of the main questions that arises from these changes is that of the identity of children's "real" parents. I will make an argument from reproductive autonomy to support the notion of "moral" parenting to the detriment of the praising of genetic or birth links. The shift from moral parenting being prima facie associated with genetic lineage, gestation or birth, to the need to reanalyse parenting entitlements is the exclusive merit (or fault) of reproductive technologies. Certainly, parenting entitlements have sometimes been reorganised before that (e.g. in adoption or custody decisions), but without significant effects on the general status quo. And, as the attribution of parenting entitlements and obligations is shifting, so will the ethics and policy of access to, and development of, reproductive technologies (e.g. if we cease to see genetics as the main component, or source of legitimacy, of reproduction and parenting, then this has an effect on the ethics and regulation of the use of donor gametes as well as public funding of, or even access to, the use of technologies for people who cannot reproduce genetically but could become parents in other ways). Reproductive technologies thus also create a wider separation between the right to reproduce and the right to parent, if indeed both can be argued for.

Ämnesord

HUMANIORA  -- Annan humaniora -- Övrig annan humaniora (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Other Humanities -- Other Humanities not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Övrig annan samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Genusstudier (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Gender Studies (hsv//eng)

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Annan teknik -- Övrig annan teknik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Other Engineering and Technologies -- Other Engineering and Technologies not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

HUMANIORA  -- Filosofi, etik och religion -- Filosofi (hsv//swe)

HUMANITIES  -- Philosophy, Ethics and Religion -- Philosophy (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

reproductive rights

parenting

assisted reproduction

adoption

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)