Stellenbosch Theological Journal 2015, Vol 1, No 1, 201–215 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17570/stj.2015.v1n1.a10 Online ISSN 2226-2385 | Print ISSN 0028-2006 2015 © Pieter de Waal Neethling Trust
Liberal democracy and the genetic supermarket: Autonomy and freedom in Jürgen Moltmann’s political theology and biotechnology1 Kotzé, Manitza University of the Western Cape manitza@gmail.com Abstract In this article, the concept of “liberal democracy” and its implications for biotechnology such as human genetic engineering will be examined. Liberal democracy is characterised by a number of features, some of which has extensive repercussions on biotechnology, especially concepts such as the equal protection of human rights, civil rights, civil liberties, political freedom for all people and autonomy and libertarianism. Advocates of human genetic engineering for purposes other than the healing of genetically transmitted diseases often appeal to these features in the quest for its legalisation. I will examine whether the attributes of liberal democracy would indeed justify the use of this type of biotechnology and if yes, what a possible theological response would be, drawing on the political theology of Jürgen Moltmann. Keywords Autonomy, Freedom, Genetic engineering, Liberal democracy, Moltmann
1. Introduction Biotechnology and aspects of liberal democracy have been closely linked together from the very beginning, with Robert Nozick, the father of libertarianism coining the phrase “the genetic supermarket”, which I use in the title of this article, already in 1974 in Anarchy, State and Utopia. As Colin Gavaghan indicates, the great virtue of the genetic supermarket, 1
Note: Paper delivered at the annual conference of the Theological Society of South Africa, with the theme Citizens or Subjects? Theological and ethical reflection on participatory democracy in South Africa, hosted in Potchefstroom, 18-20 June 2014.