...Philosophy 243-007 Cloning Essay October 5,2011 Leon Kass, the author of “ Preventing Brave New World”, an article opposing the continuation of cloning, is wrong to conclude that with the use of human cloning, we will fall down a slippery slope leading to the degradation of our human nature, putting ourselves before our children, bettering our children for the wrong reasons, and ultimately demeaning our own moral worth (Kass, 445). Through the scientific advances that we have made throughout the years, we have made the lives of many people longer and more fulfilling. The advances that Kass is arguing against, has given people children, prolonged the lives of many, and given people the opportunity to do things that they may not be able to do anymore. If there are all of these positive outcomes, how can Kass argue what he does? Before I begin, I feel it necessary to clear up a misunderstood word that may be the reason why people view certain aspects of cloning the way that they do. I will give this particular word a complete unbias by using a scientific definition instead of using my own words. The term that a person should know to truly understand the perspectives being compared is the word: Embryo. According to The Encyclopedia Britannica, an embryo is, “the unborn child until the end of the seventh week following conception; from the eighth week the unborn child is called a fetus”(Encyclopedia Britannica; “embryo.”). The embryos that are being used for cloning are only during...
Words: 1407 - Pages: 6
...To clone; Is it morally wrong? Some might say that having a beloved pet die is one of the worst things to happen to them, but what about bringing a new being into the world that resembles the one lost? It is a reminder of the pain and hurt that family or person felt when they lost their precious pet. There is a another question at hand.. Does it go against human morals? While at first glance it might seem like a solution to death, it is the natural order of life. Beings and animals die, however saddening it might be. Cloning is completely slandering that principle, that way of how life naturally goes. Qualities and genetics spliced and replicated into the same but entirely new being. Memory however is lacking, of their previous life but that doesn't make it anymore right to have this reminder, this almost identical pet...
Words: 850 - Pages: 4
...De-extinction or not? The ethical dilemmas of cloning extinct species have been a...
Words: 2296 - Pages: 10
...Nathan Johnson Persuasive Essay Human Cloning Cloning humans has recently become a possibility that seems much more realistic in today's society than it was twenty years ago. It is a method that involves the production of a group of identical cells or organisms that all derive from a single individual (Grolier 220). It is not known when or how cloning humans really became a possibility, but it is known that there are two possible ways that we can clone humans. The first way involves splitting an embryo into several halves and creating many new individuals from that embryo. The second method of cloning a human involves taking cells from an already existing human being and cloning them, in turn creating other individuals that are identical to that particular person. With these two methods almost at our fingertips, we must ask ourselves two very important questions: Can we do this, and should we? There is no doubt that many problems involving the technological and ethical sides of this issue will arise and will be virtually impossible to avoid, but the overall idea of cloning humans is one that we should accept as a possible reality for the future. Cloning humans is an idea that has always been thought of as something that could be found in science fiction novels, but never as a concept that society could actually experience. "It is much in the news. The public has been bombarded with newspaper articles, magazine stories, books, television shows, and movies as well as cartoons¨...
Words: 2582 - Pages: 11
...also become significantly more accepting of sex between an unmarried man and woman, divorce, embryonic stem cell research, polygamy, and cloning humans. The only issue that Americans have become significantly less accepting of over the last 12 years is medical testing on animals. These data are from Gallup's annual Values and Beliefs survey, most recently conducted May 2-7. Gallup has asked Americans about their views on many of these issues each May since 2001. Americans' views of the moral acceptability of 10 of the 19 items Gallup asked about have not changed significantly over time, shifting less than five points since they were first measured. A majority of Americans continue to say seven of the 19 items measured are morally wrong -- married men and women having an affair, cloning humans, polygamy, suicide, pornography, sex between teenagers (measured for the first time this year), and cloning animals. Attitudes toward two items -- doctor-assisted suicide and abortion -- are fairly evenly split, with less than half of Americans seeing each as either morally acceptable or morally unacceptable. A majority of Americans see all other items included in the list this year as morally acceptable. Birth control tops the list as the most acceptable, seen as such by 91% of Americans, while having an extramarital affair is the least morally acceptable, at 6%. One of the interesting features of these trend data is Americans' steady and overwhelming disapprobation of married...
Words: 860 - Pages: 4
...It is possible to clone mammals. Is it morally acceptable to clone a human being? Defend your answer against those who would not agree with you. By: Martin Pierce Student Number: 1057404 In cloning for medical-research purposes the development of the embryo is halted as soon as a cluster of stem cells develops. The stem cells are then harvested for research purposes. Due to the fact that no infant is born (in fact the embryo never even gets past the blastocyst stage), it is argued that this type of cloning has nothing to do with human cloning. (Hatch Backs Limited Cloning, 2002). For this reason this paper shall take the statement “to clone a human being” as meaning cloning that results in a fully formed human and not on the cloning of embryos for the purposes of research. The issues around cloning are in the main more ethical than theological and yet most of the objections to cloning come from religious sources, even if those objections are not religious in nature. The first objection is that cloning leaves God out of the process of human creation. This only makes sense though if your definition of God is of a being that plays a role in the birth of each member of our species. Even holding to this view it does not necessarily follow that cloning is comparable to playing God (Brannigan, 2001). How can science prevent a supposedly...
Words: 2863 - Pages: 12
...Preventing a Brave New World Derek Brown Grantham University Abstract This paper wills discuss Leon Kass's conclusion that reproductive and therapeutic cloning of human embryos is unethical. It will also converse the steps in Kass's argument for his conclusion and will talk about the strengths and weaknesses of this argument? Preventing a Brave New World You ever see the mover Jurassic Park? Did you take notice the basis of the of is about cloning dinosaurs DNA; I know for one, the world is not ready for dinosaurs to walk free about the earth again. This also brings to mind a movie titled "The Boys from Brazil". This movie too depicts cloning, where the DNA of Hitler is used to clone babies with intent of one them again reigning over Germany; the world wouldn't be ready for another holocaust. To continue heading down in which cloning is the standard, then these types of cloning are a definite likelihood. Would you be ready for a "brave new world?" Or would you try to "prevent a brave new world?" You decided! Would it be so bad to have a world were all is good, no disease, famine, or illness; everyone is the epitome of their father and mother eyes and all those living in a world where cloning the norm. There are those in the here and now who see cloning, in all it facets, as a good and wonderful thing, to be done by all, if your hearts so desires. "Some among us are delighted, of course by the this state of affairs: some scientist and biotechnologist...
Words: 938 - Pages: 4
...Wanda Brewington Professor Maria Zaccaria Introduction to Ethics April 27, 2015 Outline THESIS: Is the use of stem cells favorable for healing and or curing human diseases more favorable for healing and or curing diseases more significant than the ethical concerns and arguments? I. What are stem cells? A) An unspecialized cell that can generate to one or more different types of specialized cells regenerated as blood or nerve cells. B) Stem cells are present in embryos and in tissues of adult organisms. II. How are stem cells used? A) Scientific Research B) Potential disease and treatment and or cures C) In vitro fertilization D) Cloning and Genetic Engineering III. Ethical concerns regarding stems cells. A) Scientific research perspective B) Political/Moral Ethics perspective C) Religious/Utilitarianism perspective IV. Conclusion | Stem Cells Risk or Benefit Since the introduction of DNA, scientists have researched many ways to treat and extinguish disease. One interesting way is through the use of stem cells. To get better understanding of stem cells, they are defined as non-specific biological cells capable of differentiating into specialized cells. Stems cells have a unique quality of developing and duplicating cells through the process of cell division. The distinctiveness of stem cells is that they are unspecialized, meaning...
Words: 2337 - Pages: 10
...that this process can decrease or even eliminate many serious genetic diseases. However, others also argue that bad medical conditions may also be passed onto the new organism that came from the original organism. A common claim is that it is unnatural, but this argument rests on nature being good. Scientists argue that diseases, illnesses, and premature death are also a part of nature, making it not perfectly good. Others also say that this does not consider the consent of future generations, but neither does normal sexual reproduction since genetic makeup is random anyway. • Personal Opinion Genetic engineering for plants and animals is an innovative idea to get rid of disorders from these organisms. Although, performing this process in humans for medical purposes may be helpful, it should not be used for personal preferences. If one wishes to perform genetic engineering because he or she prefers someone to have different coloured hair or any other miscellaneous characteristics, it should be discouraged because this is close to playing with divine control and goes askew with morals. The research for genetic engineering should be continued, but it should be under strict watch and have limits....
Words: 1227 - Pages: 5
...Human Cloning Table of Contents: Advantages and Disadvantages Human Cloning and Divine Command Theory Human Cloning and Naturalism Human Cloning and Religion Human Cloning and Utilitarianism Human Cloning and Ethical Egoism Human Cloning and Kantianism Advantages and Disadvantages Like any other controversial topic, human cloning has numerous advantages and disadvantages, and based on these, one ought to decide whether to condemn human cloning as ethically right or not. On the one hand, there are several advantages for human cloning. These are mostly medical and political advantages. From a medical point of view, cloning can serve to improve the human condition. As a matter of fact, it provides cures to various diseases. With human cloning legalized, doctors would no longer treat cancer by chemotherapy; they would rather replace the affected cancerous organ by a new cloned one. Another way human cloning can serve to improve the human condition is by improving future generations. Some traits in human beings are unwanted and undesirable and can therefore be genetically dismissed in clones. Thus, future generations will not bear these unwanted characteristics. Furthermore, human cloning can serve to provide solutions to problems such as infertility and aging. Although Human cloning has a good number of advantages, it also has a lot of drawbacks. First of all, human cloning is the act of creating a new human being using technology and not the traditional way. This causes a...
Words: 2326 - Pages: 10
...Mirroring the World: The Aspects of Human Cloning Mirroring the World: The Aspects of Human Cloning Looking into a mirror presents an image that is strikingly similar to your own, but what if this image could come to life. Through extensive research, scientists have discovered a way to create life through a process called cloning. Cloning can simply be described by making an exact copy of an object. No one would have ever thought science could reach a level in history where you can actually make an exact duplicate of any organism. With such a large hype over this new discovery, there have many opposing arguments that carried along through the years with the research. Growing circulations have revolved around this issue creating a question asking, “Has Genetic Engineering gone too far?” Trial and error is the key concept in cloning, which follows suit through its complicated process, complications, and alternatives that will together to give us a sneak preview of the future ahead of us. A Step into the Process Cloning can be done in a few methods to create new life. The most common type of cloning is known as “somatic cell nuclear transfer.” In English, the method is basically saying that someone takes the DNA from the clone and DNA from the unfertilized egg and fuses the cells together to create the exact copy. This is one way to create a clone; the other involves the egg of the female species being copied. The scientist then extracts the donor’s genes from...
Words: 1694 - Pages: 7
...The Human Cloning Debate its Benefits Potential and Controversies Charles J. Butler Devry University ENG 135 Professor Norton Abstract This paper explores the vast science and medical research that has gone into cloning, specifically human cloning. It focuses mainly on internet websites and articles posted on to the internet. The articles focus mainly on the history of cloning and the various ways that nature has used cloning and how mankind has extended natures approach and ultimately advanced cloning methods and the new technology that has been discovered because of these advances. The articles contain proof that further advancements in cloning can develop possibilities in preventing and curing diseases. There is discussion on how continued research into therapeutic cloning can expand the knowledge of how certain diseases and cancer attack the body, and how this knowledge can help fight and even eliminate both these issues. Another topic of discussion is how cloning could lead specific cell production of various organs and tissues through-out the body which can lead to curing failing organs and even the possibility of growing replacements organs thus doing away with then need for lengthy organ transplant lists and the needless suffering of thousands of patients a year. The paper contains the various ethical and controversial arguments that human cloning bring up. Keywords: Therapeutic cloning, The Human Cloning Debate its Benefits Potential and Controversies ...
Words: 3264 - Pages: 14
...Animal Cloning and Experimentation | March 22 2011 | Is Cloning Animals Ethical? | Carli Mapes PHI 110 | A question that has plagued scientific and philosophical minds for many years is whether the experimentation and cloning of animals is ethical. This same question has caused more questions to arise again and again; such as, should we exploit animals for our own benefit? Do our rights override that of animals, and if they do, should we be allowed to decide the fate of these animals? Furthermore, what are we to do with these animals when we have cloned them or when we have finished our experimentations on their cells? Are these clones really animals, or are they just scientific facsimiles? Because there are no clear-cut answers to these questions, opposing opinions are argued, sides are taken, and even organizations are founded to address this issue. Many of the reasons for justifying the cloning of animals are wrong and benefit only the ones who have sought them in the first place; for example, some companies want to use the cloned animals for its own selfish, personal gain. W. R. Grace Company sought to have prized animals cloned and sold at high prices.1 Racehorses were an ideal animal to clone because of its superior breeding and intellect. The price of the racehorses’ sperm alone sells for a hefty sum so its clones would sell for even more. What these companies do not understand is that each clone is not exactly the same as the original animal. There is...
Words: 1742 - Pages: 7
...Phil 216 Our world has evolved in so many ways over the years, both physically and intelligently. We as human beings have evolved right along with it. When we think of sciences, we immediately think about how things work, and how the human mind “works”; but when we think about being morally philosophical, we think what humans ought to be and what they out to think. These ideas lead into philosopher Joshua Greene’s views on deontology vs. consequences. Ultimately Greene thinks there is no external fact about what is right or wrong but the best we can do is be consistent with our values as they are. So, what does this mean? One good example is the infamous “trolley example” where there are 5 people standing on the track and they are about to be hit by the trolley, and there is another track with one person standing on the tracks, and you have the choice to “pull the switch” so the trolley goes to the other track saving the 5 people but resulting in killing the one other person. Many people say they would pull the switch because they would be saving 5 people instead of just one. But, if you made the situation more personal, and up front where you would push a person in front of the trolley in order to slow the trolley down and to save the other 5 people, a lot more people said they wouldn’t push the person and just let things take its own course. Now why would this have changed if it is the same scenario, just different ways to do it? Greene views it as, people tend to act...
Words: 1521 - Pages: 7
...social, and religious concerns coupled with some psychological and biological or genetic implications both to the conceived embryos and their mothers. It is not an overstatement to adduce that there are disastrous health implications and consequences associated with assisted reproduction, which more often than not are overlooked by physicians and those desperate for children. There are three main types of assisted reproduction namely – artificial insemination, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), and surrogacy. The ethical concern of these procedures is that they are unnatural method of conception, creating life in the laboratory, and fertilizing more embryos than would be needed, which often leads to massive abortion. Creating “man-made human beings” could be morally and religiously unethical. Doing things unnaturally such as assisted reproduction could have some devastating consequences. For instance, in vitro fertilization usually comes with multiple births which are often accompanied by infant mortality, low birth weights,...
Words: 2128 - Pages: 9
