Golems among us : how a Jewish legend can help us navigate the biotech century / Byron L. Sherwin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sherwin, Byron L.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Biotechnology--Moral and ethical aspects.

Biotechnology.

Genetic engineering--Moral and ethical aspects.

Genetic engineering.

Golem.

Physical Description:

237 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Chicago : Ivan R. Dee, 2004.

Summary:

Mr. Sherwin briefly traces the fascinating history of the golem legend in Western culture, then shows what lessons it holds for us in navigating a safe journey-philosophically, theologically, ethically, and in public policy-through the minefield of twenty-first-century social and biological engineering in which we now stand. ""A fascinating journey....Sherwin's compassion, humor, and intellect provide a moral compass to help us navigate through astonishing, promising, and sometimes perilous developments in biotechnology."" --Lori Andrews

Contents:

1 Golems 'R Us 7

2 The Golem of Prague 18

3 Creating a Golem 27

4 Golems Among Us 35

5 The Past Meets the Present: The Golem and the Genome 47

6 Organic Golems: Frankenfood and Designer Genes 66

7 Test-tube Golems: Stem Cells and the Cloned Arranger 94

8 Mechanical Golems: Toward a Postbiological Human Future? 123

9 Corporate Golems: The Supreme Court Creates an Artificial Person 156

10 The Honey and the Sting: The Golem Meets Frankenstein 192.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 213-219) and index.

ISBN:

1566635683

OCLC:

53896746