Abstract
This thesis examines the moral permissibility of gene editing for human enhancement by addressing three key questions: (1) Is human enhancement through gene editing always morally impermissible? (2) If not, under what conditions might it be permissible? (3) What policy recommendations follow from this analysis? To do this, I first provide an overview of gene editing technologies and explore some key technical and ethical distinctions. I then categorise four distinct types of human enhancement and assess the relevance of the popular treatment/enhancement distinction. Next, I evaluate three major ethical frameworks—the precautionary approach, the cost/benefit approach, and the virtue-led approach—to determine the conditions under which gene editing might be morally permissible. Finally, I propose a combined approach that synthesises insights from these frameworks and illustrate its practical application through a case study. This analysis aims to provide a nuanced ethical foundation for future policy development.