PLAYING GOD: the BIOETHICS GAME

"Evolution: an unsuccessful attempt to produce a human being." —Anon.

Devising, implementing and enforcing systems of rules regarding human biology, medicine, reproduction etc can be challenging, enlightening, educational, entertaining, and a real groove! YOU can assume the powers of life and death, birth and growth and decay, existence and termination! And you can win valuable prizes! Here's how to PLAY GOD in the BIOETHICS GAME:

1. Select or create an ethical / logical / moral / religious / philosophical system. Be aware that most existing systems are comprised of numerous subsystems / subsects, often contradictory, so you have a great deal of latitude in your selection. If none of these suits your purposes, you may combine any portion(s) of any number of them, or invent your own system components. Your system may thus be based on theological and/or traditional and/or rational and/or evolutionary and/or random and/or stupid factors. Whatever. The more inclusive your system, the more points you get.

   Ethics deals with "moral systems and the rules, or the possibility (and/or desirability of such), of behavior among individuals. Philosophers concerned with ethical systems are preoccupied, in the first place, with the possible aim of human conduct and whether there is some form of 'highest good' to which everyone aspires, consciously or unconsciously. Philosophers concerned with ethics must also consider by what means we are to become aware of the highest good and how we are able to develop knowledge and judgment of what is good and what is bad." —Margaret Crosland

   Your system may include any, all or none of the following:
   • The idea that some behaviours are good, that some aren't so good, and that we can and should distinguish between these. But HOW to?
   • The idea that some biological entities are of greater value than others; and means for determining the relative values. But WHO says so?
   • The idea that rules of behaviour are possible, necessary, and useful; and means for generating & codifying such rules. But WHY should you?
   • The idea that such rules may or may not be flexible and/or rational, and may or may not take priority over other concerns. But on WHOSE orders?
   • The idea that you (alone or with others) have the right, power and authority to devise, implement and enforce such rules. But who appointed YOU?
   • The idea that other people should be persuaded or compelled to submit to your decisions about their lives. But how do you convince THEM?

2. Apply your system to any desired aspects of human biology, anatomy / physiology, medicine, genetics, reproduction, sexuality, etc. Be aware that many systems already devote some attention to such matters, so you may choose to borrow, oppose, parallel, or otherwise adapt or react to these other teachings. Or you can ignore the suckers completely. Apply your system as narrowly or broadly as you wish. The more pervasive your system, the more points you get.

   NOTE: If your personal motto is WHEN YOU'VE GOT'EM BY THE BALLS, THEIR HEARTS AND MINDS WILL FOLLOW, then you're in exactly the right place.

3. Engage some institutional authority (governmental, corporate, whatever) to enforce your judgments. Your system ain't worth diddly-squat unless it's got some clout behind it. Use your influence and power to directly affect people's lives at your whim, but attribute all actions to the system itself, not its functionaries. The more intrusive you system, the more points you get.

   NOTE: You can gain the assistance of temporal authority by persuasion, dissimulation, intimidation, coercion, bribery, whatever it takes. Without power, you're nothing.

4. Now it's time to PLAY GOD. Make some life-or-death, birth-or-extinction decisions. Enforce those decisions. Make profound pronouncements. Change peoples' biological lives. Make sure people have reasons to fear you, supplicate you, attend to you, defer to you, elevate you, emulate you. All in the name of your bioethical system, of course. And it doesn't hurt to have some merchandising tie-ins: literature, videos, action figures, amulets, etc. The more compulsive your presence, the more points you get.

So there you have it! Play the game, win points, control the biological destiny of millions, and you've pretty much filled up an afternoon, eh? And it's lots more fun than watching TV basketball! Usually.

PLAYING GOD The Easy Way

You can exercise power over life and death WITHOUT going through all the tedium of the preceding section! PLAYING GOD is easy! And it's fun! You can do it everyday, as you commute to work, while you're at work or home or play, ANYWHERE! Here's how:

Playing God Without Breaking A Sweat

•   Drive down the road. Whenever you DON'T drive into oncoming traffic, you're playing god by granting those other drivers LIFE.
•   Drive down the road. Look at any pedestrians who may be alongside or crossing the road. You could kill any of them with a mere twist of the steering wheel. By letting them live, you are playing god.
•   You find yourself at your workplace. Some intolerable motherfocker among your cow orkers richly deserves to have his/her throat or skull crushed, but you refrain. You have divinely granted them life.
•   You are shopping, or in some other public place, and you encounter someone who makes it apparent that they should be removed from the genepool, but you let them live. You are playing god.
•   At home, some relative or friend or neighbor is eminently qualified for extinction, but again you grant divine mercy and you let don't terminate their existence. You may even grant them some other boon, such as partaking of your sacred presence. Yet again do you play god.

Many more examples could be shown, but you should get the idea by now. Every time you DON'T kill people or pets or livestock on a mere whim, you are playing god by granting them life. And every time you DO kill one of them, you are playing god by granting them death, removing them from the agony of their existence.

You are divine. Make the most of your powers. Have fun, eh?

CONTENTS:

Part 1:

INTRODUCTION: BioEthics For Morons

Guidelines For Reproductive BioEthics

Guidelines For Medical BioEthics

Guidelines For Legal BioEthics

PERSONAL Q&A re: BioEthics

Part 2:

PLAYING GOD: The BioEthics Game

Playing God The Easy Way

GO! index