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7. Synthetic Biology

COMPOST Collective (author)

Chapter of: Bioethics: A Coursebook(pp. 109–126)

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Title	7. Synthetic Biology
Contributor	COMPOST Collective (author)
DOI	https://doi.org/10.11647/obp.0449.07
Landing page	https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0449/chapters/10.11647/obp.0449.07
License	https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Copyright	COMPOST Collective;
Publisher	Open Book Publishers
Published on	2025-05-12
Long abstract	Ethical considerations in synthetic biology (SynBio) extend beyond biosafety and biosecurity concerns to encompass issues of justice and political dimensions, necessitating an approach that accounts for both theoretical frameworks and the practical realities of laboratory research. Given SynBio’s interdisciplinary approach and dual-use potential, ensuring its overall positive impact requires a stage-wise and research area-specific ethical analysis rather than treating it as a monolithic technology. Ethical assessments should be integrated at distinct phases of research—knowledge generation, methodological development, and application—while also prioritizing environmental and livelihood justice to address broader societal implications. Establishing ethical awareness early in researchers’ careers can foster a long-term commitment to responsible research practices, influencing both individual projects and institutional policies. Although political and corporate interests often drive technological development, fostering public engagement and ethical discourse remains imperative. Furthermore, current ethical discussions on SynBio frequently rely on dualistic frameworks, such as nature versus machine or life versus nonlife, which can lead to conceptual deadlocks. Integrating non-dualistic perspectives, particularly from non-Western philosophies, can provide deeper insights and contribute to a more holistic and context-sensitive ethical approach to SynBio.
Page range	pp. 109–126
Print length	18 pages
Language	English (Original)

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Contributors

COMPOST Collective

(author)

Research Group at the Department of Philosophy at University of Antwerp

https://www.uantwerpen.be/en/research-groups/compost/

COMPOST Collective is a research group at the Department of Philosophy of the University of Antwerp. This interdisciplinary collective has a specific interest in (bio)ethics and is embedded in the department's Center for Ethics.

References

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Ethical considerations in synthetic biology (SynBio) extend beyond biosafety and biosecurity concerns to encompass issues of justice and political dimensions, necessitating an approach that accounts for both theoretical frameworks and the practical realities of laboratory research. Given SynBio’s interdisciplinary approach and dual-use potential, ensuring its overall positive impact requires a stage-wise and research area-specific ethical analysis rather than treating it as a monolithic technology. Ethical assessments should be integrated at distinct phases of research—knowledge generation, methodological development, and application—while also prioritizing environmental and livelihood justice to address broader societal implications. Establishing ethical awareness early in researchers’ careers can foster a long-term commitment to responsible research practices, influencing both individual projects and institutional policies. Although political and corporate interests often drive technological development, fostering public engagement and ethical discourse remains imperative. Furthermore, current ethical discussions on SynBio frequently rely on dualistic frameworks, such as nature versus machine or life versus nonlife, which can lead to conceptual deadlocks. Integrating non-dualistic perspectives, particularly from non-Western philosophies, can provide deeper insights and contribute to a more holistic and context-sensitive ethical approach to SynBio.