Jeremy Rifkin | |
Jeremy RifkinJeremy Rifkin, "The Ultimate Therapy: Commercial Eugenics
on the Eve of the Biotech Century" Jeremy Rifkin (1945- ) was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in
Chicago. He earned a B.A. from The Wharton School of the University of
Pennsylvania in 1967 and an M.A. from The Fletcher School at Tufts University
in 1968. Rifkin is the founder and president of the Foundation on Economic
Trends, an organization that studies public policy issues involving the
economy, the environment, and biotechnology. His books include Own
Your Own Job: Economic Democracy for Working Americans (1977), Declaration
of a Heretic (1985), The End of Work: The Decline of the Global
Labor Force and the Dawn of the Post-Market Era (1995), and The
Biotech Century: Harnessing the Gene and Remaking the World (1998).
His work also appears in periodicals such as the Los Angeles Times,
The Ecologist, and New Perspectives Quarterly. "The
Ultimate Therapy: Commercial Eugenics on the Eve of the Biotech Century"
takes a look at the debate about human genetic engineering. It was first
published in Tikkun in 1998 and reprinted in The Biotech Century. | QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION | CONTENT - According to Rifkin, in which economic sector is genetic commerce
likely to have its biggest impact?
- Define the words eugenics, psychotropic, virulent,
and somatic.
- Name two diseases mentioned in connection with "genetic stigma."
- What are the "diseases of affluence"?
- What do recessive traits have to do with evolution? What do they
have to do with eugenics?
- According to the author, what scientific breakthroughs marked the
20th century? How will the 21st century be different?
- What are the basic differences between somatic therapy and germ
line therapy?
STRATEGY AND STYLE - What structural signals does Rifkin provide in paragraphs thirteen
through fifteen to present Dr. Zimmerman's argument? How easy are they
to spot and follow? How else could he have given transitional clues
here?
- In paragraph thirty-one Rifkin makes a comparison involving a machine.
What is the complete comparison and how does it help him make his point
about the changing nature of molecular biology?
- What is the author's argument here? What kinds of support does
he use to bolster his argument? Do you find his support persuasive?
- Take a look at the evidence presented in paragraph eighteen to
support the author's point about parental responsibility. What analogy
does the author make? Do you find this evidence sufficient? Explain.
- Rifkin divides his essay into sections and provides titles for
them. How can you categorize the sections? What does he gain from this
choice? How would the piece be different without them?
| ENGAGING THE TEXT | - How closely have you followed the debates about genetic engineering?
How might this level of information have affected your reading here?
- If you could change one genetic trait that's expressed in you,
what would it be and why? Do you feel more comfortable dealing with
this issue as a hypothetical, or would you actually do it if the means
were available? How might these feelings have influenced you during
your reading?
| SUGGESTIONS FOR SUSTAINED WRITING | - The author points out that when debating human genetic engineering,
the question of just what constitutes a "defect" is problematic.
Which problems in human genetics are worthwhile targets? Where do you
encounter a grey area? What problems might arise socially? Morally?
Regarding evolution itself?
- Rifkin suggests that large corporations and privileged consumers
might decide and determine significant moral and legal matters if the
trends in eugenics he describes continue and intensify. Write an essay
outlining those trends, what institutions don't get a proper voice within
this scenario, and what doyou see as potentially at stake.
| FOR FURTHER RESEARCH | In paragraph three Rifkin writes that by 2004 "the global life science
companies will hold patents on most of the 100,000 genes that make up
the human race." Do some research to find out how many they hold
now. Are they on their way to reaching that mark? Why or why not? | WEB CONNECTION | Read this blurb
review of Rifkin's book Beyond Beef: The Rise and Fall of the Cattle
Culture. What can you tell about the book from this review? If you
wanted to read the whole review, what would be an efficient way to find
it? Does your library have a copy of this book? | LINKS | Biographical Ready to start learning more about Rifkin? Visit the homepage
of his organization, the Foundation on Economic Trends. Once there,
you'll find a brief mission statement, and links to a biography, news,
and other information. Here's a very different biography,
compared to the one you found above, from the National Center for Public
Policy Research. What are some of the ways it differs? Does this biography
seem fair to you? Explain.
Bibliographical Ok, it's time for some of Rifkin's work in etext. Here are excerpts
from his book The End of Work. Do you like or dislike using etext?
Explain. Rifkin gave a speech in 2000 at the Ecology Farming Conference
about "genetic pollution." This page
has some more information about it, including photos and some multimedia
links.
Cultural Interested in environmental issues such as those Rifkin explores,
but not sure how to narrow your topic? This Google.com directory
about the environment will help you. "Appropriate technology" usually refers to that which is
sustainable into the future and includes technology involved with energy,
agriculture, and community planning. Take a visit to the homepage
of the National Center for Appropriate Technology for an overview. What
did you discover there? Where could you go online to find differing
views? Maybe you'd like a way to get a general overview of some issues relating
to technology? Try this directory
from Google.com. Does the amount of entries online surprise you? Why
or why not?
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