In this blog post, we will examine whether advances in science and technology expand human free will or confine it within the constraints set by genetics.

Is destiny predetermined?

First, before beginning this blog post, I would like to introduce the myth of Oedipus. The myth of Oedipus is the story of a hero who succumbed to fate. The general plot is as follows.
Laius, king of ancient Thebes, received an oracle stating that if his queen gave birth to a son, that son would bring about his downfall. Overcome with anxiety, Laius abandoned the son shortly after his birth. The abandoned child was taken to Corinth by shepherds, where he was adopted by the King of Corinth and given the name Oedipus.
Later, having grown up as a prince of Corinth, Oedipus received a prophecy at the Temple of Delphi foretelling his tragic fate: that he would kill his father and marry his mother. Seeking to escape his fate, Oedipus goes to Thebes and becomes its king. However, eventually realizing he cannot defy his destiny, he blinds himself.
In this myth, the entity that determines fate is the god who delivers the oracle. Humans are portrayed as beings unable to escape fate, and this fatalistic perspective has had a profound influence on human history. However, this fatalism was merely a matter of choice based on individual belief.
As we moved from the Middle Ages, when divine authority was paramount, into the modern era, human reason and free will were emphasized, and the fatalistic perspective gradually faded. Ironically, however, with the rapid advancement of science in the 20th century, a form of determinism reinterpreted through reason reemerged. The key to this was the discovery of DNA in 1953 by James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick.
Watson and Crick revealed that DNA contains all the information that determines our biological processes. If we can decipher the DNA sequence and the information it contains, we can understand all of a person’s biological processes. For example, if we know the genetic sequence associated with a specific disease, we can predict a person’s fate even before they are born. Thus, the entity that determines human destiny is once again replaced by small molecules: DNA and genes. This can be called “DNA determinism.”
So, is our destiny already determined from the moment we are born? The director of the film “Gattaca” presents an answer to this question through the movie.

Synopsis of the Movie ‘Gattaca’

The movie ‘Gattaca’ is set in the near future, where genetic engineering has advanced significantly. In this era, a single drop of blood is enough to determine a person’s probability of developing diseases, personality, appearance, health status, and even life expectancy through DNA analysis.
The protagonist, Vincent Freeman, is born through natural conception without any genetic manipulation. Immediately after his birth, a doctor predicts through DNA analysis that Vincent has a high probability of developing various diseases and will die of heart disease at the age of 31. In contrast, his younger brother, Anton Freeman, is conceived in a test tube and born as a “perfect” child, with all disease-causing factors removed through genetic manipulation.
Vincent has been fascinated by space since childhood and dreams of becoming an astronaut, but his parents, aware of his genetic information, try to dissuade him. Vincent often swam against his younger brother Anton, but being genetically disadvantaged, he always lost. However, one day, Vincent wins a race, and this event plants a small seed of hope in his heart.
Yet in the society depicted in this film, people conceived naturally are classified as “imperfect unqualified individuals,” while those born through artificial insemination are deemed “perfect qualified individuals.” Since one must be a “Perfect Qualifier” to become an astronaut, Vincent faces repeated setbacks. Eventually, he works as a janitor, but he never gives up on his dream of becoming an astronaut and keeps looking for an opportunity. Then, he meets Jerome Eugene Morrow, a “Perfect Qualifier” who looks just like him. Jerome was disabled in an accident and sells his identity to Vincent. Vincent forges Jerome’s identity and gets a job at an aerospace company.
In the process, Vincent becomes involved in a murder case and faces the risk of his true identity being exposed, but he overcomes various crises and finally becomes an astronaut, flying into space. Through this film, the director conveys the message that even if one’s fate is genetically determined, personal effort and willpower can overcome destiny.
At the end of the film, after winning a swimming race against his brother, Vincent says, “I beat you because I didn’t save any energy for the return trip.” This line conveys the message that overcoming destiny requires effort. However, the film reveals its limitations. While Vincent’s relentless effort and passion were the driving forces behind his dream, chance played a significant role at the decisive moment. Vincent met a patron who supported him, and the person who came to investigate the murder was none other than his brother. Furthermore, at the very last moment, he received help from the doctor conducting the drug test. Without this assistance and these coincidences, Vincent would not have been able to fulfill his dream. In this regard, the film suggests that effort alone has its limits when it comes to overcoming genetic destiny, and it contains a dystopian warning about the potential consequences of science and technology.

Can science and technology change destiny?

Since the emergence of surplus production, humanity has lived in a class-based society. However, even within such a society, class did not absolutely determine an individual’s superiority or inferiority. When considering individuals apart from their social status, it is difficult to judge their relative worth. History supports this, as there have been many instances where people from lower classes achieved great feats. In his book *Status Anxiety*, Alain de Botton notes that this fact serves as a key factor in alleviating anxiety within class-based societies.
However, with the advent of the 21st century, advancements in genetics have begun to undermine this premise. These advancements now make it possible to genetically engineer humans even before birth to be disease-free, healthier, smarter, and more attractive. While this makes a utopia where everyone lives disease-free seem possible, there is a high likelihood that these benefits will not be distributed fairly to everyone. If existing social classes determine who has access to these benefits, social superiority and personal superiority may align.
In other words, there is a possibility that society will become one where the wealthy are smarter, healthier, and more attractive than the poor. In such a society, social mobility will become even more difficult. This is a structure that is socially very unhealthy.
Technology is inherently value-neutral, but the people who use it are not. While advances in science and technology can certainly bring many benefits to humanity, they can conversely make people unhappy. We must be vigilant to ensure that the legacy passed down through our genes does not create a 21st-century Oedipus.