In this blog post, we explore the meaning of human life by comparing the lives of customized humans born through genetic engineering with those of natural humans.
In 2001, experimental mice with fluorescent genes were developed in the United States. In 2003, fluorescent fish were released in Taiwan, and in 2006, fluorescent pigs appeared in the same country. Let’s think about it logically. Could mice, fish, and pigs that glow in the dark really exist in nature? Of course not. Most people would intuitively conclude that these animals were created through artificial processes. And it is natural to think that genetic engineering was involved in these processes.
That’s right. In fact, these animals are all genetically modified creatures created by humans. The fluorescent genes were artificially inserted, giving them characteristics that cannot be found in nature. And this genetic engineering technology will soon be applied to humans. We call these future humans “customized humans.”
So what exactly are “customized humans”? The movie Gattaca is a powerful work of imagination on this topic. In this movie, customized humans are depicted as superior to natural humans who have not undergone genetic manipulation. In the movie, customized humans are beings whose genes have been modified before birth and who are designed to perform specific jobs or functions.
Let’s look at a scene from the movie. In the middle of the film, a pianist with six fingers appears, whose genes were manipulated at birth so that he could live as a pianist. Another character, Jerome Morrow (Eugene), has genes that were manipulated so that he could become a swimmer. In other words, from the moment life begins with the combination of sperm and egg, these people’s lives are already determined.
At this point, let’s ask an important question. If we assume that natural humans and customized humans are completely identical in terms of genetic expression, in other words, if both beings have the same abilities and traits and the only difference is whether or not they have been genetically modified, which would you choose? Would you choose to be born a natural human or a customized human?
I would definitely choose to be a natural human.
The reason for this stems from the essential value of human existence and life, namely, “self-determination.”
The true subject of life must be “oneself.” Life means living a self-determined life. The core of life is the process of choosing what one wants for oneself and striving to realize those choices. However, it is difficult for customized humans to live such a life because the direction of their lives is determined at the genetic design stage.
Looking at examples of people who have failed or been eliminated in modern society, many of them have experienced frustration after following a path determined by others rather than living their own lives. Because they were unable to live the life they truly wanted, they lost their identity and became mentally vulnerable. Customized humans must live the life they are given from the moment they are born, so they may be the most representative example of a life controlled by others.
Of course, some people may consider this view overly pessimistic. In reality, there are people who fail even though they tried to live their lives according to their own will. We cannot conclude that all social failures are caused by others. However, the important thing is that self-directed choices and efforts themselves determine the meaning of life. If you have something you truly want, you must strive and challenge yourself to achieve that goal.
Let’s take another look at the characters in “Gattaca.”
The heroine, Irene, is a genetically engineered human, but she suffers from heart disease and cannot fulfill her dream of becoming an astronaut. On the other hand, the hero, Vincent, was born a natural human and diagnosed with a 99% chance of dying from heart disease before the age of 30. Due to genetic discrimination, he was unable to even join the space development company “Gattaca.”
Nevertheless, Vincent overcomes the nearly impossible odds and realizes his dream through tremendous effort. By training his physical strength and borrowing other people’s genetic information, he is finally recognized as an outstanding employee at Gattaca and eventually succeeds in becoming an astronaut. This is not just a matter of effort. He was the true protagonist of his life, endlessly striving and challenging himself to overcome his circumstances.
Of course, there are counterarguments. Some may say, “He got the job by borrowing Jerome Morrow’s genetic information, so his success is due to his genes rather than his efforts.” However, it was Vincent’s decision to trade genetic information, and this should be seen as part of his efforts. The important thing is that he did not live a “pre-determined life,” but broke the mold and paved his own way.
The scene where Vincent wins a swimming competition against his brother Anton and saves him from drowning is a symbolic climax. Vincent, who had always lost to his brother in swimming, finally overcomes his inferiority complex as a brother and surpasses his own limits. This scene shows the potential and mental strength of natural humans that customized humans cannot surpass.
At this point, an important insight emerges. Natural humans are not confined to a mold. Without genetic design, they do not know their limits. Rather, this infinite potential is what defines the essence of human existence. On the other hand, customized humans live a “programmed life.” Because they are manipulated to do certain things, they unconsciously live their lives without question, saying, “I was born to do this.” In the sense that the direction and possibilities of their lives are already determined, they do not have true freedom.
To illustrate this with an analogy, it can be likened to a boiling pot. The pot of a customized human has a lid, which limits the range in which steam can escape. On the other hand, the pot of a natural human has no lid. Steam can escape anywhere, and the possibilities are endless.
Natural humans are fundamentally different from customized humans. Choosing between the two is not simply a matter of choosing whether or not to undergo genetic modification, but rather answering the philosophical question, “How do I want to live my life?” If you want to live a self-determined life, then natural humans are the only answer.
If I had been born a customized human and found out about it later in life, I would probably feel confused, as if every moment of my life had been negated. The fact that all my decisions and choices were not my own, but part of a life designed by someone else, could destroy the very meaning of my existence. Do you want to feel that your life has been an illusion? Or do you want to follow a path laid out by others and believe that it is “happiness”?
J. Hustler said, “If you break the egg yourself, you become a chick, but if someone else breaks it, you become fried eggs.”
Which life will you choose? A chick or fried eggs?
