PHILOSOPHICAL INVESTIGATION ON THE ETHICS OF PLAYING GOD

Abstract

Philosophers like Mary Midgley, Hans Jonas, and Immanuel Kant have all studied the ethical controversy surrounding "playing God" in great detail. Their analyses offer important insights into how humans interfere with the natural and moral order. The deontological framework of Kant emphasizes the value of upholding rational autonomy and warns against excessive behavior that transgresses moral law. The ethical necessity of taking into account long-term effects when developing new technologies, especially in the areas of genetic engineering and environmental manipulation, is highlighted by Hans Jonas's notion of responsibility. The hubristic inclinations present in the metaphor of "playing God" are criticized by Mary Midgley, who cautions against reducing intricate life systems to simple technological difficulties. In order to examine the ethical limits of human ingenuity and intervention in fields that are customarily attributed to supernatural authority, this study investigates various philosophical stances. The analysis shows a conflict between the hazards of unintentional harm and moral overreach and the ethical need to innovate for human happiness. The study comes to the conclusion that a strict ban on "playing God" ignores the complex moral obligation people have to influence their own destiny. It suggests using a framework based on Kantian respect for individuality and Jonas's ethics of responsibility to make sure that scientific advancement is pursued with humility, foresight, and a dedication to justice. In order to responsibly traverse the problems presented by developing biotechnologies and artificial intelligence, the study also promotes multidisciplinary discourse and democratic deliberation in governance, promoting an accountable and morally informed exercise of human agency.