The Ethical Implications of Human Cloning

Paper Summary:

This paper examines the ethical implications surrounding reproductive and therapeutic cloning, including issues such as the right to an open future, commodification of children, the risk of psychological harm to the clone, the right to individuality and the "Kantian Ends and Means Dictum". It shows that although many moral objections to cloning can be theoretically rebutted, by adopting an approach which views the welfare of the resultant clone as the paramount consideration in the cloning debate, it is concluded that such a practice should never be allowed. It also considers the current legal regulation of cloning and concludes that the status quo should be maintained.

Outline
Introduction
Reproductive Cloning
Current Situation
Procreative Autonomy
Safety Implications
Intrinsic Sense of Immorality
Individuality
The Right to an Open Future
Commodification
Psychological Harm
Human Dignity and the Kantian ?Ends and Means? Dictum
Fear of Eugenics
Therapeutic Cloning
The Moral Status of the Embryo
The ?Slippery Slope? Argument
Should Therapeutic Cloning be Permissible?
Legal Regulation of Cloning
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"One of the central tenets of the cloning debate is whether a person has the right, as articulated by Dworkin, to "procreative autonomy". He defines this as a right to control one's own role in procreation unless the state has a compelling reason for denying them that control. Following from this, Harris contends that "genetic imperative" is a fundamental aspect of the right to procreative autonomy and since society grants the legitimacy of genetic aspirations in so many cases and indeed the use of advanced technology to meet such desires, only compelling and serious reasons could deny people such wishes in the case of cloning. Although Dworkin and Harris assert that there is insufficient evidence of harm to justify interfering with this freedom of an individual, a consideration of the following ethical issues will demonstrate that what is at stake if cloning is permitted outweighs the right of an individual to procreative freedom."

More papers on The Ethical Implications of Human Cloning:

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• Argumentative Essay # 121809 : "Human Cloning and Ethics"

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