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Ethical Egoism

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References http://www.vision.org/visionmedia/science-and-environment/life-patenting/1158.aspx http://www.iep.utm.edu/egoism/

As Ethical Egoists, we believe that our actions should be motivated by and based on our own self-interest. We also believe that our actions are morally right if they are maximizing our self-interest first. This can extend beyond ourselves though, to include what we stand for or believe in, as long as we believe those things because we think it will promote our own well-being or personal advancements. In the discussion of patenting life, and whether we believe it is ethical, our position is for patenting life, and we do believe that doing so is ethical. We take this stand because we know that patenting life can serve as a means of advancement in ourselves and our world. If we make advancements in the biological aspects of our world, we are only helping to advance ourselves, which brings all of this back to self-interest. We argue for these advancements through the ability of patenting life because it will benefit us and pertains to our own self-interest.
Policymakers should adopt a deontological approach because it would help them to see how patenting life is ethical under a series or rules rather than looking at the consequences, whether they be good or bad, of the action of patenting life itself. Deontology focuses on what is universally accepted or rejected as opposed to looking at the consequences or causes of the actions. It is not unlawful to create GMOs, therefore, the deontological approach works because it does focus on a set of rules. If there are no laws or rules against creating the GMOs, then it should be deemed morally right to do so. In the past, it was unlawful to patent life, but that has changed. Based on the set of rules defining patent laws, it is now legal to patent life. If it is legal to patent life, then it is moral

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