“Genomic emancipation” by TsviBT

PDF version. berkeleygenomics.org. x.com. bluesky. YouTube.

Introduction

We, the free world, as a society, should decide to invest in the development of technology for human germline genomic engineering.

To me, this claim speaks for itself. Who wouldn't want to massively decrease the risks of many diseases in their future children? Who wouldn't want to give their children strong and diverse capabilities, like creativity, problem solving ability, wisdom, and empathy?

If so many people want this technology, doesn't it stand to reason that our scientists and entrepreneurs would be highly motivated and enabled to develop it? But, well, they aren't yet.

So, even though the claim speaks for itself, we have to ask: What would it look like to have a world where humanity greatly benefits from germline genomic engineering? What broader vision does reprogenetic technology fit into?

Some reasons we should work out [...]

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Outline:

(00:18) Introduction

(02:14) Disclaimers

(02:51) What is emancipation?

(03:59) What is genomic emancipation?

(06:29) Emancipation from whom?

(06:43) Mother Nature

(07:54) The lesion

(09:53) Emancipation of whom?

(13:07) Emancipation by whom?

(13:47) Emancipation how?

(16:48) Emancipation to where?

(17:00) The bush

(18:58) Expansion

(21:54) Intelligence

(24:02) Equal opportunity

(24:18) Emancipation when?

(24:54) The urgent need for health

(25:19) The urgent need for human capacity

(26:28) Safety, efficacy, and societal consent

(28:08) Genomic engineering overhang

(30:22) The internet and human destiny

(34:18) Heal whats in front of you

(36:15) Buttressing emancipated humanity

(36:43) The infinite game

(38:33) Growing pains

(39:43) Habermas and multigenerational feedback

(41:41) Fukuyama and human dignity

(44:19) C.S. Lewis and the tyranny of one generation

(48:23) Sandel, May, Heidegger: the giftedness of being

(54:27) Palinsynopsis

(56:06) Conclusion

(56:17) Appendix: Is this eugenics?

(56:28) The substantive question

(57:05) The terminological question

(01:03:29) Appendix: Why envision genomic emancipation?

(01:04:30) Noticing major problems

(01:04:51) To be destroyed by true refutations

(01:06:31) To be sharpened by true criticisms

(01:08:10) To hold our intentions strongly

(01:08:18) To be defended against false refutations

(01:11:27) To be exerted to realize the good possible worlds

(01:13:11) To be spread and amplified

(01:13:45) Blunt-force responses

(01:16:27) Blunt-force responses are good

(01:17:29) The blunt-force response against germline genomic engineering

(01:19:35) Critiques of character and motivation

(01:26:03) Deference as a blunt-force response

(01:28:13) Appendix: The origins of souls

(01:28:19) Influences on a childs genome

(01:30:51) Why not just have the state enforce beneficial choices?

(01:32:59) Forms of parental care

(01:37:24) Non-separateness of parent and child

(01:41:38) Appendix: Intelligence

(01:46:08) Appendix: on safer-sooner reprogenetics

(01:46:14) Examples of how reprogenetics is safer if developed sooner

(01:49:06) The ramp-up of reprogenetic strength

(01:52:05) Acknowledgement

The original text contained 14 footnotes which were omitted from this narration.

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First published:
June 21st, 2025

Source:
https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/rdbqmyohYJwwxyeEt/genomic-emancipation

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Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.

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