Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/276232 
Year of Publication: 
2023
Citation: 
[Journal:] Science and Engineering Ethics [ISSN:] 1471-5546 [Volume:] 29 [Issue:] 5 [Article No.:] 34 [Publisher:] Springer Nature [Place:] Berlin [Year:] 2023 [Pages:] --
Publisher: 
Springer Nature, Berlin
Abstract: 
There is an ongoing debate about genetic engineering (GE) in food production. Supporters argue that it makes crops more resilient to stresses, such as drought or pests, and should be considered by researchers as a technology to address issues of global food security, whereas opponents put forward that GE crops serve only the economic interests of transnational agrifood-firms and have not yet delivered on their promises to address food shortage and nutrient supply. To address discourse failure regarding the GE debate, research needs to understand better what drives the divergent positions and which moral attitudes fuel the mental models of GE supporters and opponents. Hence, this study investigates moral attitudes regarding GE opposition and support in Germany. Results show that GE opponents are significantly more absolutist than supporters and significantly less likely to hold outcome-based views. Furthermore, GE opponents are more willing to donate for preventing GE admission than supporters are willing to donate for promoting GE admission. Our results shed light on why the divide between opponents and supporters in the German GE debate could remain stark and stable for so long.
Subjects: 
genetic engineering (GE)
moral absolutism
technology aversion
moral convictions
GE debate
consumer skepticism
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by Logo
Document Type: 
Article
Document Version: 
Published Version

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.