A Deeper Look at Being Human
With each instance of interest in the unknown comes a voice begging the question of decent judgment. Bioethical issues are no different, as they reflect curiosity through seemingly-positive strives for humanity while still walking the fine line of destructive action. Essentially, the text is an organization of history’s testaments to the human nature and how biological exploration has come to strain core principles that constitute ‘being human’.
Organization of prospected concerns is crucial to the editor, as it is divided into sections by content and perspective of approach. Initially, the book begins by presenting the reader with the issue surrounding the human desire to ‘play God’, so-to-speak, in terms of biological advances (xxii). It then shifts to reflect a ponderous approach to human existence and presents what it is that constitutes the human nature (xxiii). Lastly, the editor touches on the question of bioethics at a more personal level, in terms of morality and how we strive to be the masters of our lives (xxiv). Through his organization, the editor works on a sliding scale to divulge the different approaches to the issue of bioethics.
Through the design of the book, Leon Kass openly discusses the issues surrounding bioethics and the means by which human history plays a role as an influential factor. Particular selection of excerpts can be seen as an attempt to passively convey his personal views. The editor intends the reader to judge these presented excerpts in an effort to invoke ‘new knowledge’ and understanding for what it truly means to be human.