The Non-Identity Paradox and the Ethics of Procreation

There is consensus that Crispr - a technique that allows for the correction of mutations in vitro which causes heritable genetic diseases - could inadvertently harm future generations by unintended 'off-target' affects. My applied ethics project researches this harm-based argument and shows that it is on unsound theoretical ground and is overdemanding. This is because of the non-identity paradox. This paradox prevents the plausibility of the harm-based argument. My thesis aims to provide a solution to the non-identity paradox and then apply this to the harm-based argument to provide a sound theoretical grounding for this harm claim.