Moral comes from the Latin word “mores” meaning “customs”. Ethics comes from the Greek word “ ethos” meaning “customs”. Morality, therefore, deals with the principle of right custom or conduct.
The case for right conduct is not always self evident. As individuals or societies argue for conducts they believe to be right different set of propositions may be assumed. The different assumed propositions may sometimes result in a very different implications for social ordering.
I believe that all human person is endowed with the ‘image and likeness’ of God and, therefore, all human beings deserve respect and dignity. Human being is not ‘it’; human being is ‘thou’.
Cloned people are manufactured in the image of existing people instead of being created as a unique individual. To be labeled a person as a ‘photocopy’ of another person is to undermine her worth. Since cloned people are ‘photocopy’ of another individual cloning undermines the identity of a person. Thus the fear that cloned people will not be treated as equal is a genuine fear.
Cloning opens up the possibility of creating people so that rich and powerful may create clone of themselves perhaps to provide organs for transplant. This may lead to violation of sanctity of life of cloned individual.
There is so much of poverty and sicknesses of all kinds that affect millions of people. Investing in terms of millions for scientific curiosity is to turn blind eye to the suffering to humanity. The role of a responsible scientist is to use scientific technology to alleviate human suffering and pain. Cloning, therefore, cannot be termed as responsible scientific research programme.
NB: Scientists are not always literate about the social consequences of their research curiosity. As much as scientific research can contribute to the welfare of human civilization so much so can it damage. Moral thinkers cannot always remain silent in the face of scientific advancement. It is then important that scientists and social thinkers constantly converse with one another.
The case for right conduct is not always self evident. As individuals or societies argue for conducts they believe to be right different set of propositions may be assumed. The different assumed propositions may sometimes result in a very different implications for social ordering.
I believe that all human person is endowed with the ‘image and likeness’ of God and, therefore, all human beings deserve respect and dignity. Human being is not ‘it’; human being is ‘thou’.
Cloned people are manufactured in the image of existing people instead of being created as a unique individual. To be labeled a person as a ‘photocopy’ of another person is to undermine her worth. Since cloned people are ‘photocopy’ of another individual cloning undermines the identity of a person. Thus the fear that cloned people will not be treated as equal is a genuine fear.
Cloning opens up the possibility of creating people so that rich and powerful may create clone of themselves perhaps to provide organs for transplant. This may lead to violation of sanctity of life of cloned individual.
There is so much of poverty and sicknesses of all kinds that affect millions of people. Investing in terms of millions for scientific curiosity is to turn blind eye to the suffering to humanity. The role of a responsible scientist is to use scientific technology to alleviate human suffering and pain. Cloning, therefore, cannot be termed as responsible scientific research programme.
NB: Scientists are not always literate about the social consequences of their research curiosity. As much as scientific research can contribute to the welfare of human civilization so much so can it damage. Moral thinkers cannot always remain silent in the face of scientific advancement. It is then important that scientists and social thinkers constantly converse with one another.
One of the best article I've ever read. The first one as well on cloning. Well put and beautifully knead together. Keep it up my friend!
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention high mortality rate of the clones as the possibility to have some kind of defect is extremely high.
ReplyDelete