"Happy Eating......Literally" and GMO's
The presentation and discussion that was given by Mike Olsen entitled "Happy eating……..Literally", fits in well with the discussion of genetically modified organisms. Both presentations dealt with the modification of ones food consumption as a means to the improvement of the human condition. Mikes presentation focused on the modification of ones diet in order to consume foods which will result in the creation of a more happy state of existence. The presentation focused on the power of serotonin and tryptophan to act as natural mood improvers. It preached the improvement of diet as an available and quite reasonable avenue by which to improve the human condition.
One major difference between the two presentations comes in the way by which one is manipulating their food consumption. Mikes presentation preaches an idea based on using things available to humanity in the natural world, as Hippocrates says “Let they food be they medicine, and thy medicine be thy food.” Instead of utilizing drugs to improve ones mood and thus progress them along on their quest for the ideal, the idea was presented of using natural means. These means are known to work and have been utilized for thousands of years while the overall safety and affect of drugs are not usually completely and fully understood. While with my presentation on GMO’s I reached the same conclusion about the improvement of the human condition that could be obtained by a diet richer in required nutrients but the way of obtaining these better nutrients is not entirely natural. In actuality the use of genetically modified organisms goes against the natural processes of nature. Humanity is changing the course of nature without much idea of the long terms effects such a decision will cause. The improvement of food consumption through the use of genetically modified organisms would be done by increasing the nutritional values of certain foods in many cases without affecting the taste. So, in essence one may not even need to change their diet but would be able to eat healthier as a result of GM foods which contain more vitamins and nutrients. The use of genetically modified organisms as a method for improving food consumption and thus human moods does not really utilize drugs per say but it is also not taking a natural approach.
Another major difference that comes about as a result of the means by which an overall better diet is being created comes in the difference in ethical questions raised by each avenue. By utilizing the methods Mike presented of a natural change in diet does not raise very many ethical dilemmas. Humanity is merely better utilizing that which is already available to them and thus the detrimental affects are pretty much nonexistent. The choice of people to change their eating habits has very little to no ethical or moral ramifications. While on the other hand the choice of people to utilizes genetically modified organisms as a means to improve their diet does hold major ethical and moral ramifications. The growing and development of genetically modified organisms has an impact upon the world, not just those people who chose to utilize them in the modification of their diets. The potential impact of genetically modified organisms upon local ecosystems and the environment as a whole are major ethical issues. There is also the ethical issue of humanity further subjecting nature and playing the role of a god-like figure. The use of GMO’s presents humanity with very significant decision which will direct the future of the earth and all its inhabitants. While the increase consumption of tryptophan and the new trend of increasing serotonin levels will have little effect upon the future of the earth and all its inhabitants.
The final major issue that needs to be breached is the difference in ability of each method to improve the human condition. Does the use of GMO’s allow for a much higher increase in happiness and mood then the change in serotonin and tryptophan levels? The potential presented in the use of GMO’s for an improvement in the human condition are higher then those attached with a change in serotonin/tryptophan levels. Food can be genetically modified to increase the amount of a large variety of vitamins and nutrients including a change in serotonin/tryptophan levels. Thus the diet could be more greatly improved through the use of genetically modified organisms and as a result the mood and happiness level of humanity further enhanced. Which brings about the question of whether or not using GMO’s over the natural way is beneficial in the quest for the ideal? One must keep in mind that the use of GMO’s has much more strings attached to it in comparison to the more natural approach. Even though on the surface the use of genetically modified organisms may appear to be the better choice for the attainment of perfection one must keep in mind potential affects that have been previously stated.
This site was created as part of the honors course: The Ideal at Monmouth College in Fall 2005