These powers are justly celebrated for their contributions to human welfare. They are, in a word, the challenges of bioethics, challenges to our humanity arising from burgeoning new technological powers to intervene in the bodies and minds of human beings.
They are the by-products of modernity’s noble and humanitarian quest to conquer nature for the relief of man’s estate. They come rather from well meaning scientists and technologists offering life, pleasure, and enhancement. The greatest moral challenges headed our way do not in fact come from hate-filled fanatics threatening death and destruction. I am thinking also of the need, in Winston Churchill’s words, to "Deserve Victory," and especially to keep human life human in the dawning new age of biotechnology. I have in mind not only the need, post-9/11, to stand-up against terror and fanaticism in defence of life, liberty, and the rule of law, a need that is likely to continue for your entire lives.
For the world has rolled itself into a new millennium amidst signs of great promise but also of great peril, calling for great courage and still greater wisdom. Surveying the world you graduates are about to enter, I am reminded of the ancient Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times." My own time has been interesting to a fault, but yours will almost certainly be more so. Shop: Roman Catholic "RC" Original Classic Pullover Hoodie | Multiple colors and sizes available!
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