What Sort of People Should There Be?

What Sort of People Should There Be? examines pressing ethical questions about human genetic engineering and modification. The book analyzes the moral implications of technologies that could alter human traits, abilities, and characteristics. Glover considers scenarios around enhancement of intelligence, personality, and physical capabilities through genetic intervention. He explores fundamental questions about human identity, free will, and the boundaries of acceptable technological manipulation of our species. The text presents rigorous philosophical arguments while remaining accessible to general readers interested in bioethics. Through systematic examination of key cases and dilemmas, Glover builds a framework for evaluating the ethics of human modification. At its core, this book grapples with defining human nature itself and whether we have the wisdom to responsibly shape our own evolution. The philosophical discussions raise vital concerns about equality, autonomy, and what we value most about being human.

This appears to be a relatively obscure academic philosophy book with limited public reviews available online. On Goodreads, it has only 2 ratings with no written reviews. No reviews were found on Amazon or other major book review sites. The book examines ethical questions around genetic engineering and human enhancement technologies. Based on academic citations and references, readers value Glover's systematic analysis of the moral implications of modifying human nature. His clear writing style on complex bioethical issues receives positive mentions. Some readers note that certain technological examples and scenarios discussed in the 1984 book now feel dated, though the core ethical frameworks remain relevant. A few readers mention wanting more concrete policy recommendations rather than theoretical discussion. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (2 ratings, 0 reviews) No other aggregated review scores found from major book sites.

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🔹 Author Jonathan Glover pioneered the field of ethics in modern warfare and wrote extensively about moral philosophy during technological advancement, making this 1984 book remarkably prescient about future ethical dilemmas. 🔹 The book was one of the first mainstream philosophical works to seriously examine the ethics of genetic engineering and human enhancement before these technologies were readily available. 🔹 Glover teaches at New College, Oxford and founded the Centre of Medical Law and Ethics at King's College London, bringing practical experience to his theoretical discussions about bioethics. 🔹 The book's central question about what types of people we should create becomes increasingly relevant as CRISPR gene editing and other technologies make human modification more feasible. 🔹 The author uses thought experiments involving identical twins and clones to explore questions of personal identity - ideas that would later become central to discussions about AI consciousness and personhood.