Research on Ethical Governance of Gene Editing Technology: A Critique Based on the Phenomenology of Technology

At present, nations are engaged in the ethical governance research of gene editing technologies. However, effective dialogue and the establishment of a unified international governance framework remain elusive. Current ethical governance strategies fail to effectively address the intricate interplay among technological evolution, ethical standards, and sociocultural contexts. This study adopts the perspective of technological phenomenology to examine the ethical governance of gene editing technologies, rejecting the governance logic rooted in instrumental views of technology as seen in both transhumanism and bioconservatism. It calls for moving beyond the binary opposition between technology and ethics, and instead advocates a deeper understanding of the agency and uncertainty of gene editing technologies, the provisional nature of specific ethical norms, and the foundational role of sociocultural morality. By emphasizing the co-constitutive relationships among these three dimensions, this paper offers philosophical recommendations aimed at constructing a more profound and comprehensive ethical governance framework for gene editing technologies.