Explain the Ethical Theory Known as Divine Command Ethics
Philosophers have tried to support the theistic-based ethical framework in both the past and present. The Divine Command Theory is a school of thought that essentially holds that morality depends on God in a certain way and that keeping God’s commandments is morally right. According to the Divine Command Theory, a character is ultimately based on the instructions or nature of God, and the course of behavior that God demands, or commands is morally right. This premise incorporates the claim that the ethically correct course of action is what God wants or commands. The specifics of these divine commands vary depending on the particular religion and the individual’s personal beliefs; however, all theories of divine command share the assumption that morality and moral obligations essentially depend on God.
Critique of Divine Command Theory
According to the metaethical concept of divine command, it is required to obey God’s orders, and doing otherwise is immoral. This implies that the divine command idea includes anything God declares morally right or evil (Wielenberg 551). Some claim that the concept is unclear and cannot be used in all situations. Some philosophers argue that the Euthyphro dilemma, that typically questions, “Is an action morally good because God orders it, or does God command it because it is morally good?” refutes their claim (Wielenberg 551). Divine command ethics has benefits and drawbacks, just like any other theory.
Regarding both faith and reason, the idea creates several issues. People look to their respective religions to help them decide whether to act ethically. It is challenging to determine what is morally right when there are numerous religions and gods, as not all gods share the same moral compass. Divine command ethics also provides a metaphysical foundation for morality. Given that God can alter the rule whenever he pleases, the theory may not entail that morality is arbitrary. Doing x is morally good; it can be any act if it is by God’s requirements. For instance, if God wants us to be brutal and deceitful, it would have been ethically required of us to act accordingly. Another drawback of the theory is religious pluralism, which makes it impossible to tell if the laws are right because different faiths worship different gods.
The Ten Commandments, the Divine Command Ethics’ unbreakable rules, outline what is ethical and what is not. Human must follow these ethical guidelines to make moral decisions. God is called “holy” in the Bible, which means that anything he mandates must be good. God is a trustworthy authority for determining right and wrong as the creator of morality. In summary, divine command ethics has advantages and disadvantages but offers a metaphysically unbiased basis for morality. People should view things from a wider angle and consider how the theory relates to specific religious issues.
Article that Relates to Bioethics
In bioethics, there is growing recognition of the necessity of comprehending the social context and public attitudes. According to Pavarini et al., it is crucial to remember that this information’s usefulness depends on how it was acquired. Researchers can use empirical approaches to characterize and analyze the many nuances of ethically critical events. The query of what defines good and legitimate scientific methods in morals, however, is one that the discipline is still debating. Furthermore, there is an increasing recognition that scientists must be critical of and conscience about the quantitative decisions they make because doing so will necessarily constrain and skew how they perceive and interpret the world around them. Although bioethics research has expanded rapidly during the past ten years, it has largely refrained from using technological methods (Pavarini et al. 3). The study proposes “design bioethics” as a field of conceptual and methodological innovation in bioethics, health sciences, and human-centered technology design.
Incorporating context, story, and embodiment into value judgements, researchers in the field of bioethics can now perform experiments that align with existing bioethics frameworks using digital technologies, such as games created expressly for the web. Digital tools for bioethics education may inspire students from historically marginalized groups to engage in bioethics research and theory on a more significant scale due to its design. Tools motivated by “design bioethics” may be able to illuminate both recent and historical normative and empirical problems in the field if they are properly developed and used. Bioethicists frequently use interviews and surveys to understand various stakeholders’ experiences and moral perspectives. However, these techniques are commonly removed from their context and lacking in effect. This runs counter to ethical theory frameworks that contend moral ideals and attitudes are influenced by social context, feelings, and interpersonal interactions.
Ted Talk on Bioethics
Creating genetically altered creatures is no more a science fiction; it might happen soon. Scientists may modify human embryos using the gene-editing technique CRISPR in the next ten years in ways ranging from cosmetic changes to removing the risk of developing autoimmune illnesses (Knoepfler). In this thought-provoking discussion, he recommends for the upcoming designer baby wave and its highly personal and unexpected implications (Knoepfler). In many countries, having a designer baby is against the law, but not in the United States.
Expert in stem cells and genetics Knoepfler discusses the long-term effects of designer babies in his talk “The Ethical Dilemma of Designer Infants,” describing them as a kindlier and more beneficial form of eugenics. He also makes mention of government involvement in the matter. He believes that there is a good chance that governments will start to be interested in genetic engineering (Knoepfler). If a GM Jenna child, for instance, turns out to be healthier and less expensive to care for, governments may start pressuring their citizens to use GM technology (Knoepfler). In his TedTalk, Knoepfler presented several observations that are generally agreed upon.
Genetically modified people should not be accepted, in Knoepfler’s opinion, because they are too dangerous and unpredictable. From the perspective of Natural Law, it obstructs the orderly and beautiful process of creating life. The issue is that individuals are trying to assume God’s position. Knoepfler is a fan of stem cells, and he is looking for safe ways to employ stem cells to treat various diseases because they can sometimes go rogue and inflict cancer (Knoepfler). He has made several significant findings about the coding of stem cells and cancer over the years. Since then, Knoepfler has developed a keen interest in manipulating these cells’ activity by hacking, such as by applying potent CRISPR genetic modification tools.
Study Guide Questions
What is the Significance of the Word “Gattaca”?
Vincent works for the space organization Gattaca, initially as a cleaner and later as Jerome Morrow. Only the most genetically gifted individuals can pursue a career as a rocket scientist. The term “Gattaca” derives from the DNA bases guanine, adenine, thymine, and cytosine, which are denoted by the characters G, A, T, and C, respectively. The foundational elements of DNA are these four nucleobases, and they serve as a blueprint for synthesizing every protein in the body, representing the genetic characteristics that make each unique.
What is an “Invalid”?
A person born genetically inferior is referred to as an “in-valid.”
Describe the Different Attitudes Vincent and Irene have toward their Imperfections
Irene feels terrible about the circumstance and believes her genetic makeup is to blame. Vincent thinks the system is broken and feels he has nothing to be ashamed of.
How are Humans “Expected “to reproduce?
In Gattaca, human reproduction through genetic engineering and artificial insemination is “anticipated.”
Gattaca Society is divided. What Determines your Social Position?
In the Gattaca civilization, genetics controls the socioeconomic division in the society.
Definitions and Examples: Bioethics, Cloning, Eugenics, Stem Cells, Genetic Engineering
Bioethics involves study of moral, intellectual, social, and legal issues regarding medicine which falls within the category of applied ethics and emphasizes the welfare of individuals. For example, topics like organ donation, transplantation, death, and dying have been the subject of bioethics. Cloning is the technique of creating a cell that is genetically identical to the original. Cloning often happens in nature, for instance, when a cell divides asexually without going through genetic mutation.
Eugenics is the analysis of belief that it is possible to improve the characteristics of the human species. Primarily, this is done by discouraging those with genetic abnormalities or those who are thought to have hereditary undesirable traits from reproducing. As an illustration, many nations have implemented eugenics policies like genetic testing and contraception, encouraging differing birth rates. All other cells with specialized functions develop from stem cells, which are the body’s building blocks. Adult stem cells can be found in bone marrow in the form of hematopoietic stem cells. Genetic engineering is a field that uses Recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology to change an organism’s genetic structure. For instance, food scientists have altered corn to resist specific bugs.
Works Cited
Knoepfler, Paul. “The Ethical Dilemma of Designer Babies.” Paul Knoepfler: The Ethical Dilemma of Designer Babies | TED Talk, Web.
Pavarini, Gabriela, et al. “Gamifying Bioethics.” Proceedings of the 2020 ACM Interaction Design and Children Conference: Extended Abstracts, 2020, pp. 1–6. Web.
Wielenberg, Erik J. “Divine Command Theory and Psychopathy.” Religious Studies, vol. 56, no. 4, 2018, pp. 542–557., Web.