Epigenetics and Responsibility

EPUB and EPDF available Open Access under CC-BY-NC-ND licence. We tend to hold people responsible for their choices, but not for what they can't control: their nature, genes or biological makeup. This thought-provoking collection redefines the boundaries of moral responsibility. It shows how epigenetics reveals connections between our genetic make-up and our environment. The essays challenge established notions of human nature and the nature/nurture divide and suggest a shift in focus from individual to collective responsibility. Uncovering the links between our genetic makeup, environment and experiences, this is an important contribution to ongoing debates on ethics, genetics and responsibility.

Emma Moormann is Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Antwerp. Anna Smajdor is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oslo. Daniela Cutas is Associate Professor of Medical Ethics at Lund University.

1. Epigenetics, Bioethics and a Developmental Outlook on Life 2. Epigenetics and Forward-Looking Collective Responsibility 3. Luck, Epigenetics and the Worth of Collectives 4. Pictures at an Exhibition: Epigenetics, Harm and the Non-Identity Problem 5. Epigenetics, Parenthood and Responsibility for Children 6. AI and Epigenetic Responsibility 7. Responsibility and the Microbiome