S. Matthew Liao (2013) | Engineer Humans to Stop Climate Change

The latest science suggests that it is too late to prevent
human-induced climate change. Technological optimists are now
turning their minds to mitigation through techniques of
geo-engineering, like giant space mirrors or seeding the oceans
with iron to prompt carbon-absorbing algal blooms. But projects
to alter the entire planet will expose all life to massive risk.


So, why not address the source of the problem and engineer humans
to reduce our environmental impact and adapt? Genetic engineering
could make us smaller or reduce our appetite for meat. Doses of
Oxytocin could make us more sympathetic and cooperative. Such
possibilities are criticised as extreme, but are they any more so
than re-engineering the planet? S. Matthew Liao is a professor of
philosophy at New York University.