The story of Prometheus has a real basis which today threatens to play out in many levels of decision making, such as that of the problem of climate change caused by overpopulation. In an article reviewing the book Modern Prometheus by Jim Kozubek, about the novel gene-editing technology named CRISPR, George J. Annas summarizes the story:
Modern Prometheus references the subtitle of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, which cogently tells the story of a scientist who is incapable of controlling his creation: a humanoid life-form brought into being through artificial means. Prometheus—the mythological Greek Titan—brought useful arts to humankind but could not prevent his brother’s wife, Pandora, from opening a present from vengeful Zeus. Pandora unleashed Zeus’ “gifts,” including sickness, insanity, old age, vice, and passion.
(Quoted from “The mythology of CRISPR,” by George J. Annas. Science, 14 October 2016, page 189.)
For a brief biography of George J. Annas, click here. For images of or relating George J. Annas, click here.
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