# Genetic Enhancement Is a Moral Duty by John Harris > “... I argue that it is not only feasible to use genetic technology to make people more healthy, intelligent and longer-lived, it’s our moral duty to do so.” > **— John Harris**, *“Getting better all the time,” New Humanist, November 5, 2007* ## Sources and Context - **Original authored essay:** [John Harris, “Getting better all the time,” *New Humanist* (November 5, 2007)](https://newhumanist.org.uk/articles/getting-better-all-the-time/). The opening ellipsis omits his introductory reference to his book *Enhancing Evolution*; the remainder is contiguous from his first sentence, preserving the first-person “I argue.” Harris defends a moral duty to pursue beneficial human enhancement and engages objections about autonomy and future generations. His assertion of feasibility and duty is an ethical argument made in 2007, not evidence that complex cognitive or longevity traits can currently be engineered with the promised effects. The packet's DHE-011 begins mid-sentence without identifying who is making the argument. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Consciousness Continuity|Consciousness Continuity]] - **Collection:** [[collections/Machine Succession|Machine Succession]] - **Collection:** [[collections/Simple Reminders|Simple Reminders]] - **Article:** [[articles/The Evolutionary Roots of Silicon Valley|The Evolutionary Roots of Silicon Valley]] - **Article:** [[articles/Walking the Beautiful Path Through the Greatest Transformation in Human History|Walking the Beautiful Path Through the Greatest Transformation in Human History]] - **Wiki map:** [[wiki/Self-Directed Evolution|Self-Directed Evolution]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/John Harris|John Harris]] - [[wiki/Self-Directed Evolution|Self-Directed Evolution]] ## Share on Social Media ``` “... I argue that it is not only feasible to use genetic technology to make people more healthy, intelligent and longer-lived, it’s our moral duty to do so.” — John Harris, “Getting better all the time,” New Humanist, November 5, 2007 https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-harris-enhancement-duty ```