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Biography

Dr. Arthur Caplan

Biology has given humanity the means to transform life. We are rapidly nearing the age of synthetic biology, the ability to create life forms to our specification. Few scientific advances promise to change our lives more radically. But, these astonishing advances bring humanity new decisions and new responsibilities. We must ask whether it is desirable or permissible to develop all the possibilities genetic advances allow. Philosopher Arthur Caplan has devoted years to pondering these challenges and devising ways to address them. A rarity among philosophers, Caplan is actively engaged in devising responses to these challenges not only through his writing but through his service on national and international committees.

He is the Emmanuel and Robert Hart Professor of Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of its Center for Bioethics. Professor Caplan has written or edited more than 25 books and is author of more than 500 articles in highly regarded journals. He has been chair of the National Cancer Institute Biobanking Ethics Working Group and chair of the Advisor Committee to the United Nations on Human Cloning. He was titled a Person of the Year by USA Today in 2001. In 2008, Discover magazine named him one of the 10 most influential people in science. He has also been named one of the 10 most influential people in biotechnology by the editors of Nature Biotechnology and the National Journal.

Arthur Caplan is the first joint York/Littleton–Franklin Lecturer.

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Lectures are free and open to the public. For more information contact 334-844-5887 or smithcl@auburn.edu.

Last Updated: February 21, 2012