Is Designing Babies Unethical—or a Moral Imperative?
About this episode
The episode explores the ethical implications of designing babies at the molecular level and whether it is a moral imperative or a dangerous manipulation of humanity's genetic heritage.
All parents know what goes into raising children: the time spent changing diapers in inopportune places; the hours of worrying—about what to feed them, how to educate them, how to protect them and keep them healthy; the countless hours devoted to dance classes, summer camps, pediatricians, and piano lessons—all investments meant to give them the best chance in life. Most of us would do anything to help our kids become the most successful and happiest versions of themselves. But what if we could start earlier? At the molecular level. What if we could ensure our babies were healthier, smarter, and stronger, before they even took their first breath? To make tweaks to our own embryos in order to “optimize” them. This isn’t something out of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. It’s the very real, and near, future. And it raises profound and critical questions. So we hosted a debate: Is it ethical to design our unborn children? And are we morally obligated to do so when the risks of abstaining include serious diseases? Or does designing babies cross a line? Is it wrong to play God and manipulate humanity’s genetic heritage? The Free Press is honored to have partnered with the Foundation…
Sponsors
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
More episodes of Honestly with Bari Weiss
- We’re All Living in Casey Neistat’s World
- A Note from Bari on Honestly
- What to Expect in 2026 with Niall Ferguson, John McWhorter, Dr. Mark Hyman, Leandra Medine Cohen, Suzy Weiss, and Sarah Isgur
- The Birth of Christianity
- CBS News Presents: A Town Hall with Erika Kirk
- Should We Legalize Assisted Suicide?
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Honestly with Bari Weiss podcast page.