The Era of Reproductive Genetics on Aldous Huxley’s Self-Fulfiling Prophesies Cover Image

Era genetyki reprodukcyjnej. O spełniających się „proroctwach” Aldousa Huxleya
The Era of Reproductive Genetics on Aldous Huxley’s Self-Fulfiling Prophesies

Author(s): Agata Breczko, Anetta Breczko
Subject(s): Health and medicine and law, Philosophy of Law
Published by: Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego
Keywords: Law; bioethics; theory of law; philosophy of law; reproductive genetics; maternity; surrogate; cloning; genetic selection; artificial fertilization;

Summary/Abstract: The paper presents the literary vision of „the power of medicine” as sketched by Aldous Huxley in his book Brave New World. Huxley created a futuristic image of society which reaches a state of complete organization and control of human procreation. In Huxley’s world humans are born as a result of in vitro fertilization and cloning. Human bodies, due to genetic selection, are produced for desired features of appearance and character, and the means of achieving universal happiness are appropriate pharmaceuticals. Artificial procreation as well as reproductive genetics anticipated by Huxley have become reality in the 21st century, implying several moral and legal dilemmas. In bioethical discussions questions emerge about the consequences of using new genetic technologies and the legal boundries of medical experiments on human bodies.

  • Issue Year: 6/2014
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 225-245
  • Page Count: 21
  • Language: Polish