Better Humans or A Better World? On Baccarini's View of Permissible Enhancements

In ch. 2 of In a Better World, E. Baccarini claims that certain genetic interventions (additive enhancements and treatments) are permissible, whereas suppressive enhancements are impermissible. He connects these claims to an ideal of fair equality of opportunity, understood as a public reason. In this note, I make two points. First, an ideal of fair equality of opportunity in a post-genomic society commits us to the view that certain genetic interventions are prima facie required, not simply permissible. Second, a nondiscriminatory or affirmational view of disability makes some suppressive enhancements permissible, at least if reproductive freedom is assumed.