Abstract
The 1992 incorporation of an article by referendum in the Swiss Constitution mandating that the federal government issue regulations on the use of genetic material that take into account the dignity of nonhuman organism raises philosophical questions about how we should understand what is meant by “the dignity of nonhuman animals,” and about what sort of moral demands arise from recognizing this dignity with respect to their genetic engineering. The first step in determining what is meant is to clarify the difference between dignity when applied to humans and when applied to nonhumans. Several conceptions of human dignity should be rejected in favor of a fourth conception: the right not to be degraded. This right implies that those who have it have the cognitive capacities that are prerequisite for self-respect. In the case of nonhuman organisms that lack this capacity, respecting their dignity requires the recognition that their inherent value, which is tied to their abilities to pursue their own good, be respected. This value is not absolute, as it is in the case of humans, so it does not prohibit breeding manipulations that make organisms more useful to humans. But it does restrict morally how sentient animals can be used. In regard to genetic engineering, this conception requires that animals be allowed the uninhibited development of species specific functions, a position shared by Holland and Attfield, as opposed to the Original Purpose conception proposed by Fox and the Integrity of the Genetic Make-up position proposed by Rolston. The inherent value conception of dignity, as here defended, is what is meant in the Swiss Constitution article.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Attfield, R., “Genetic Engineering: Can Unnatural Kinds be Wronged?” in P. Wheale and R. McNally (eds.),Animal Genetic Engineering: Of Pigs, Oncomice and Men (Pluto Press, London, 1995), pp. 201–210.
Bayertz, K., “Human Dignity: Philosophical Origin and Scientific Erosion of an Idea,” in K. Bayertz (ed.),Sanctity of Life and Human Dignity (Kluwer, Dordrecht, 1996), pp. 73–90.
Bedau, H. A., “The Eighth Amendement, Dignity, and the Death Penalty,” in M. J. Meyer and W. A. Parent (eds.),The Constitution of Rights. Human Dignity and American Values (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 1992), pp. 145–177.
Birnbacher, D., “Ambiguities in the Concept of Menschenwürde,” in K. Bayertz (ed.),Sanctity of Life and Human Dignity (Kluwer, Dordrecht 1996), pp. 107–122.
Bericht der Ethik-Studienkommission des Eidgenössischen Volkswirtschaftsdepartements zur Gentechnologie im ausserhumanen Bereich (Bern, 1995).
Cavalieri, P. and P. Singer (eds.),The Great Ape Project. Equality Beyond Humanity (Fourth Estate, London, 1993).
Cavalieri, P., “Etica and Animali: Special Issue Devoted to the Great Ape Project,”Etica and Animali 8 (1996).
Cheney, D. L. and R. M. Seyfarth,How Monkeys See the World. Inside the Mind of Another Species (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1990).
Dobson, A., “Biocentrism and Genetic Engineering,”Environmental Values 4 (1995), 227–239.
Feinberg, J., “The Nature and Value of Rights,” inFeinberg, Rights, Justice, and the Bounds of Liberty (Princeton University Press, Princeton, 1980), pp. 143–158.
Fox, M., “Transgenic Animals: Ethical and Animal Welfare Concerns,” in P. Wheale and R. McNally (eds.),The Bio Revolution, Cornucopia or Pandora’s Box? (Pluto Press, London, 1990).
Gewirth, A., “Human Dignity as the Basis of Rights,” in M. Meyer and W. A. Parent (eds.),The Constitution of Rights. Human Dignity and American Values (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 1992), pp. 10–28.
Holland, A., “The Biotic Community: A Philosophical Critique of Genetic Engineering,” in P. Wheale and R. McNally (eds.),The Bio Revolution, Cornucopia or Pandora’s Box (Pluto Press, London, 1990), pp. 166–174.
Kant, I.,Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals (translated by H. J. Patton, 1964) (Harper and Row Publishers, London, 1785).
Kane, R.,The Significance of Free Will (Oxford University Press, New York, 1996).
Massey, St., “Is Self-Respect a Moral or a Psychological Concept?”Ethics 93 (1983), 246–241.
Mayer, S., “Environmental Threats of Transgenic Technology,” in P. Wheale and R. McNally (eds.),Animal Genetic Engineering: Of Pigs, Oncomice and Men (Pluto Press, London, 1995), pp. 125–132.
Meyer, M., “Introduction,” in M. Meyer and W. A. Parent (eds.),The Constitution of Rights. Human Dignity and American Values (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 1992), pp. 1–9.
Parent, W. A., “Constitutional Values and Human Dignity,” in M. Meyer and W. A. Parent (eds.),The Constitution of Rights. Human Dignity and American Values (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 1992), pp. 47–72.
Patterson, F. and W. Gordon, “The Case for the Personhood of Gorillas,” in P. Cavalieri and P. Singer (eds.),The Great Ape Project. Equality beyond Humanity (Fourth Estate, London, 1993), pp. 58–79.
Perret, R. W., “Valuing Lives,”Bioethics 6 (1992), 185–200.
Praetorius, I. and P. Saladin, Die Würde der Kreatur (Art. 24 novies Abs.3 BV). Schriftenreihe Umwelt Nr. 260 (Bern: BUWAL, Bern, 1996).
Regan, T.,The Case for Animal Rights (Routledge and Kegan, London, 1983).
Reiss, M. R. Straughan,Improving Nature? The Science and Ethics of Genetic Engineering (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1996).
Rollin, B. E.,The Frankenstein Syndrome, Ethical and Social Issues in the Genetic Engineering of Animals (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1995).
Rolston, H. III,Environmental Ethics (Temple University Press, Philadelphia, 1988).
Rolston, H. III, “Environmental Ethics: Values in and Duties to the Natural World,” in F. Bormann and S. Kellert (eds.),Ecology, Economics, Ethics (Yale University Press, New Haven, 1992), pp. 73–96.
Rust, A.,Transgene Tiere. Überlegungen aus ethischer Perspektive (Gen Suisse, Bern, 1994).
Schöne-Seifert, B., “Philosophische Überlegungen zu ‘Menschenwürde’ und Fortpflanzungsmedizin,”Zeitschrift für philosophische Forschung 44 (1990), 442–473.
Schweizer, R. P. Saladin, “Kommentar zu Art. 24novies,” in J. F. Aubert et al. (eds.),Kommentar zur Bundesverfassung der Schweizerischen Eidgenossenschaft (Helbling and Lichtenhahn, Basel, 1995).
Sitter-Liver, B., “Würde der Kreatur. Grundlegung, Bedeutung, Funktion eines neuen Verfassungsprinzips,” in J. Nida-Rümelin and D. von der Pfordten (eds.),Ökologische Ethik und Rechtstheorie (Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, Baden-Baden, 1996), pp. 355–364.
Skinner, B. F.,Beyond Freedom and Dignity (Jonathan Cape, London, 1972).
Spaemann, R., “Über den Begriff der Menschenwürde,” in E. Böckenförde and R. Spaemann (eds.),Menschenrechte und Menschenwürde (Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart, 1987), pp. 295–313.
Sumner, L. W.,Welfare, Happiness, and Ethics (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1996).
Taylor, P. W.,Respect for Nature (Princeton Uniersity Press, Princeton, 1986).
Westra, L., “‘Respect,’ ‘Dignity’ and ‘Integrity’: An Environmental Proposal for Ethics,”Epistemologia 12 (1989), 91–123.
Westra, L.,An Environmental Proposal for Ethics. The Principle of Integrity (Rowman and Littlefield, Lanham, 1994).
Wolf, J.-C., “Die Würde der menschlichen Zygote,” in H. Ganthaler and O. Neumaier (eds.),Anfang und Ende des Lebens (Academia, Sankt Augustin, 1997), pp. 37–71.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This paper is a slightly revised version of a paper that had been published in German in 1998 (“Menschenwürde vs. Würde der Kreatur,” Freiburg i.Br.).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Balzer, P., Rippe, K.P. & Schaber, P. Two concepts of dignity for humans and non-human organisms in the context of genetic engineering. J Agric Environ Ethics 13, 7–27 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02694132
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02694132