Cloning Essay Research Paper Cloning EthicalThe cloning

Cloning Essay, Research Paper

Cloning, Ethical.

The cloning of an adult sheep and the possibility that human cloning could soon follow has raised some serious ethical questions. Some people object on a purely ethical level while others favor cloning solely for the scientific advances it will produce. In the debate over cloning, there are those who say that the scientific benefits and advances gained from cloning are beneficial to society. On the other hand there are those who feel that cloning is morally wrong and would produce both scientific and social problems.

Since ethics is not an exact science, whereas cloning is, ethics has the tendency to generate more controversies than answers (Huges 12). As Huges, the author of “Human Cloning: Should It Be,” pointed out, anything that does not make someone feel good may be unethical for them, but that doesn’t make it illegal. The ethical issue of cloning should not arise at all at this stage, because society is not there yet to venture in such a task without knowing all of the ramifications (Huges 13). The issue, though, should not be left unattended either. It will be important for cloning to be researched under a well-monitored environment (Huges 12). Unethical concerns at one time could later on become ethical only if society could justify the need to have use for them (Mario 13).

What moral considerations deserve our attention and which are the most important in responding to a particular issue. These are questions that arise with every new controversy. Whether one’s ethical beliefs come from theological commitments, philosophical arguments, or from true-life experiences, all voices should be welcome to the conversation (Nash 80). All thoughtful views are entitled to a respectful hearing.

While tolerance is a widely accepted virtue in America, it is important to remind ourselves that it is built on the idea of mutual respect and the capacity to accept whenever possible, the moral worth of others with whom one may disagree (”Cloning Supporters” 3). Tolerance means both agreeing to disagree and accepting the challenge of sustaining a community where moral authority will, to some extent, always be contested.

Many people have different views of what is and what is not natural (Will A-8). Out of one thousand people polled, forty-eight percent of them believe that cloning is unnatural (Misterpoll 1). Due to the fact that clones originate from a single fertilized egg should make that cloned person natural (”Cloning Supporters” 3).

Since most people have visions of Dr. Frankenstein creating life from inanimate matter they are not getting all the facts straight (”Cloning Supporters” 3). Cloning creates life from life. The true definition of cloning is the production of one or more individual living things that is genetically identical to the living thing that was cloned (”Ethical Aspects of Human Cloning” 7).

Another issue that has come up about whether it is ethical to clone is the question of how a cloned person would act. Since a cloned person would be an exact replica of the original person he or she would be very similar physically and should be alike mentally (Wilmut 75). On the other hand his or her personality comes from genes, social influences, and how they were brought up (Wilmut 74). Because of this the cloned child’s personality would be completely different from the original person, unless he or she was raised in the exact same environment.

“Genes are not destiny, but that will not stop people from thinking that human cloning needs to be stopped before it starts” (Mario 3). If this were the case, as Smith sees it “a cloned Hitler might turn out to be a very nice guy (Mario 4).” Since it can not be proven that genes are not destiny, people are convinced that cloning will produce an appalling creature of destruction.

Some of the most commonly cited ethical and moral arguments against human cloning seem to originate from religious perspectives (”Cloning Supporters” 5). Politicians and scientists can even make these religious arguments with religious sympathies. Many of these religious philosophies teach, for example, that human life is unique and special and should be created, determined and controlled only by their deities perspectives (”Cloning Supporters” 6).

Numerous religions believe in the existence of, and in the individuality of, a human soul. Some people have questioned about whether or not a cloned embryo would have a soul. A soul is colorless, weightless, and has never been detected by any and may not even exist (”Ethical Aspects of Human Cloning” 6). But it is a concern to believers. Christians, for example, will be concerned about whether it will be possible to clone the human soul, along with the human (Mario 6). If it is possible to clone the soul, what will this mean. In contrast, if a person is cloned, but not their soul, what will this mean. Can a clone without a soul be destroyed and not offend moral or religious beliefs. Cloning will be defined by many as humans assuming the powers, the providence, and the jurisdiction their deities or other spiritual powers of their supernatural universe (”Cloning Supporters” 5).

The other advantage to cloning is perfectly matched organs, and the abundance of donor organs (Barr). Although most people don’t like the idea of “organ farms,” they have to realize the fact that society wil