SORIANO, Seichi Rens C.

Philo 1
2014-51489 Marquez

Last February 21, 2018, speaker and former UNESCO member, Dr. Leonardo

De Castro lead the discussion on Bioethics in the two-session miniconference titled

"Crossroads" which clarifies and expounds the connection, intricacies, and depth of

Philosophy and Science in the 21st century. The first talk centered on the main idea

and concept of gene editing and the relationship, implications, and integration between

the field of science and philosophy.

Gene editing is considered a kind of humanity-impacting technology.

Developments in technology have made it possible to alter and design the biological

composition of the body itself - something that was discovered, identified, and accepted

only in recent time compared to the years humanity has thrived and survived. Its

implications are rather beneficial to society but there may be some debates and

hesitations about its method. This is where the importance of philosophy and its way of

analyzing, reasoning, and comprehending is helpful to this topic.

Why do scientists need to be philosophers? Science is a field where an

understanding of the past, present, and future is important. Science is ever evolving but

it should always lead for the good of humanity. Science is built on the past discoveries

and applied on the present with the future in mind. In the past, there are many

far-reaching works of science that have since been then regularly incorporated into our
daily lives. A majority of the work done in this field is thinking, analyzing, and reasoning.

Therefore, a greater understanding of the radical implications and presumptions of a

scientific study through the lens of philosophy would prevent unfavorable results and

mindless or even destructive effects – “a science with conscience”.

As for gene editing specifically, the topic of Bioethics is concerned as it involves

issues emerging from advancements in biology and medicine. Gene editing is dealing

with more intricate and sensitive methodology and it questions the boundary of limits

within scientific development with social, cultural, ethical, and religious reasons. Some

scientific breakthroughs are widely debated based on. It is a question of whether the

end justifies the means and that is still rather difficult to answer and defend. Again,

philosophy should be incorporated in scientific decision making and think very carefully

and assertively in a scientific product/development.

The second part of the talk by Assoc. Prof. Agerico De Villa focuses more with

science and technology in general. The further technology evolves, the further it tries to

break more boundaries. In the age of information and technology, what does it mean to

still value the philosophy of mind with the presence and further assimilation of artificial

intelligence? The speaker concludes the suggestion of reinventing the concept of mind

to go along with the modern time and valuing knowledge as just an explanation, but also

a prediction that will be useful to the future.