Philosophy: Human Cloning; Humanity's Folly
Humanity’s Folly
Due to the psychological characteristics of humanity, and all humans’ universal inability to continually adhere to a universally agreed form of ethics, our species has no other option but to proclaim that further experimentation at this time in the science of human cloning is immoral. Before it can be addressed whether or not the benefits would outweigh the consequences, it must first be established what those prominent consequences are and since it is not possible to determine precisely what the benefits would be, the benefits presumed are instead based on possible probability.
The idea of human cloning is truly bewildering. Combined with genetic engineering, it is the stuff of legendary science fiction. Imagine a human being created to be the epitome of perfection in all aspects; appearance, intellect, and health. It would be as though we were gifted with an evolutionary leap into our own futures long before it arrives on an intellectual level, and on a physiological level perhaps attaining a perfection of health and body that could have never existed. With great intellect comes great discovery, and humans are truly incapable of imagining with accuracy what the future holds, for example, there is no limit to the potential contributions that a clone manufactured to become the most intelligent human ever to exist could bring forward. When stated in this way, the idea of cloning humans sounds ultimately good. Surely such an individual would be treasured by our world, and valued for their accomplishments and benefits to humanity. The revelations that could be brought forward, the cures for disease, the greater understanding into what makes a human a human, the fundamental principles of the creation of life beyond what we currently are aware, these are all found in the study and experimentation of human cloning. But what would be the cost?
Dr. Ian Wilmut, the man responsible for successfully cloning the sheep Dolly in 1996, claims that we
Due to the psychological characteristics of humanity, and all humans’ universal inability to continually adhere to a universally agreed form of ethics, our species has no other option but to proclaim that further experimentation at this time in the science of human cloning is immoral. Before it can be addressed whether or not the benefits would outweigh the consequences, it must first be established what those prominent consequences are and since it is not possible to determine precisely what the benefits would be, the benefits presumed are instead based on possible probability.
The idea of human cloning is truly bewildering. Combined with genetic engineering, it is the stuff of legendary science fiction. Imagine a human being created to be the epitome of perfection in all aspects; appearance, intellect, and health. It would be as though we were gifted with an evolutionary leap into our own futures long before it arrives on an intellectual level, and on a physiological level perhaps attaining a perfection of health and body that could have never existed. With great intellect comes great discovery, and humans are truly incapable of imagining with accuracy what the future holds, for example, there is no limit to the potential contributions that a clone manufactured to become the most intelligent human ever to exist could bring forward. When stated in this way, the idea of cloning humans sounds ultimately good. Surely such an individual would be treasured by our world, and valued for their accomplishments and benefits to humanity. The revelations that could be brought forward, the cures for disease, the greater understanding into what makes a human a human, the fundamental principles of the creation of life beyond what we currently are aware, these are all found in the study and experimentation of human cloning. But what would be the cost?
Dr. Ian Wilmut, the man responsible for successfully cloning the sheep Dolly in 1996, claims that we