Zitat aus Peter Sloterdijk's "Regeln für den
Menschenpark":
"Es ist die Signatur des technischen und anthropotechnischen Zeitalters,
daß Menschen mehr und mehr auf die aktive oder subjektive Seite der Selektion
geraten, auch ohne daß sie sich willentlich in die Rolle des Selektors gedrängt
haben müßten.
Man darf zudem feststellen: Es gibt ein Unbehagen in der
Macht der Wahl, und es wird bald eine Option für Unschuld sein, wenn Menschen
sich explizit weigern, die Selektionsmacht auszuüben, die sie faktisch errungen
haben. Aber sobald in einem Feld Wissensmächte positiv entwickelt sind, machen
Menschen eine schlechte Figur, wenn sie – wie in den Zeiten eines früheren
Unvermögens – eine höhere Gewalt, sei es den Gott oder den Zufall oder die
Anderen, an ihrer Stelle handeln lassen wollen. Da bloße Weigerung oder
Demissionen an ihrer Sterilität zu scheitern pflegen, wird es in Zukunft wohl
darauf ankommen, das Spiel aktiv aufzugreifen und einen Codex der Anthropotechniken
zu formulieren. Ein solcher Codex würde rückwirkend auch die Bedeutung des
klassischen Humanismus verändern – denn mit ihm würde offengelegt und
aufgeschrieben, daß Humanitas nicht nur die Freundschaft des Menschen mit dem
Menschen beinhaltet; sie impliziert auch immer – und mit wachsender
Explizitheit -, daß der Mensch für den Menschen die höhere Gewalt darstellt.
[…] Wer hat Atem genug, sich eine Weltzeit vorzustellen, in
der Nietzsche so historisch sein wird, wie Plato es für Nietzsche war? Es
genügt, sich klarzumachen, daß die nächsten langen Zeitspannen für die
Menschheit Perioden der gattungspolitischen Entscheidung sein werden. In ihnen
wird sich zeigen, ob es der Menschheit gelingt, zumindest wieder wirkungsvolle
Verfahren der Selbstzähmung auf den Weg zu bringen.
[…] Ob aber die langfristige Entwicklung auch zu einer
genetischen Reform der Gattungseigenschaften führen wird – ob eine künftige
Anthropotechnologie bis zu einer expliziten Merkmalsplanung vordringt; ob die
Menschheit gattungsweit eine Umstellung vom Geburtenfatalismus zur optionalen
Geburt und zur pränatalen Selektion (Allgemeiner gesprochen: zur Manipulation
biologischer Risiken; eine Ergänzte Formulierung) wird vollziehen können – dies
sind Fragen, in denen sich, wie auch immer verschwommen und nicht geheuer, der
evolutionäre Horizont vor uns zu lichten beginnt.“
Synthetic Biology is a subject and a trade in which the researcher is
facing a growing number of questions on a daily basis. Working in the
development of technology
that uses the very building blocks of nature in order to enable
humankind to manipulate its surroundings, maybe even itself in an
entirely new way, holds issues which need to be addressed. Synthetic
biology carries the inherent risk to interfere with life itself on many
levels – it is a vital part of the self-conception of the modern
scientist that this imposes great responsibility on the part of the
researcher. In order to make an informed decision, said researcher must
rely on data gathered by the scientific community. Thus a common concept
of good research and professional behavior is indispensable.
The SynBio Oath is meant to express for oneself as well as to
society the principles on which ethical, beneficial and safe research is
conducted:
Every researcher is responsible for his own work, but the implications
of SynBio go beyond an individual, therefore to take the oath must be a
personal commitment
and independent from corporate and ideological structures. It reflects
the intention
to gather genuine information just like one must expect every other
scientist to do, and puts into words a pride in one's profession that
does not allow for vanity or greed.
To give the oath more substance and to better connect scientists
with each other, it is backed by a community of peers who ensure the
keeping of their principles and further promote the oath and the ideas
it stands for among life scientists.
I know I don't know everything.
I learn from nature and will make use of the knowledge gained responsibly.
I respect all living systems, their complexity and dynamics and recognize my responsibility towards them.
I recognize the power of synthetic biology and will apply it for the benefit of humankind.
I oppose the use of synthetic biology to develop weapons.
I strive to improve public understanding of the methods, results
and implications of synthetic biology, its appropriate application, and
potential consequences.
I carefully listen to concerns and questions expressed by the public or members of the community and respond honestly.
I emphasize the open sharing of ideas, knowledge and data.
I adhere to local law.
I adopt established scientific procedures and safe practices.
I will never allow financial gain, competitiveness, or ambition
cloud my judgment in the conduct of ethical research and scholarship.
I faithfully transmit this code and the ethical principles upon
which it is based to all who are or may become engaged in the conduct of
life science.
The idea of a community of life scientists is, to guarantee the
adherence to the code by the members and thus give it credibility and to
make it be more than just words.
The community will be decentralized all over the world. There is
no official organ for the community. It is held together by personal
contacts among the individual members.
Everyone with a serious intention to engage in life science can be taken up into the community.
To take the SynBio Oath, makes you a member of the community.
For becoming a member of the community, your oath has to be
administered by two members of the community to ensure the oath is taken
seriously. The oath can be taken verbally or by signing a declaration.
This has to be witnessed by the two other members. To these members you
need to name your identity, field of life science activity and
workplace.
Members are asked to point out to public that the oath has been
taken (e.g. on a website). This gives the oath a greater impact and more
credibility in society.
The community members are primarily liable to their own conscience, to other community members and to local law.
Members are asked to be honest and treat others respectfully.
The community members will facilitate and encourage free
knowledge and information exchange, as well as international contacts,
among biologists and with the public.
Members are encouraged to visit, learn from, and to teach one
another on a regular basis in order to improve their work in accordance
to the oath.
Periodic meetings will be held to discuss new developments in the
field important to the community. Their decisions will be shared among
all community members. The meetings can be physical or via internet.