Introduction
The ethical problems can be seen among the remarkable features of modern science. Certainly, the interest to such problems did not occur recently, where the discussion of ethical issues has its long and history. One of the main directions of scientific and technological development is its steady approach toward people, their needs, aspirations and expectations. As a result, people are engaged in a world created and adjusted by science and technology.
Such engagement is not limited to serving people, where science and technology approaches not only from the outside, but also from the inside, making people their creation, designing people and for the people. Literally, this is done in contemporary researches related to the field of genetics, embryology, and biomedical fields. In that regard, it can be mentioned that, if during the middle of the last century the technological power of people were associated, first of all, with the giant sizes of their creations, such as hydroelectric power stations, atomic-powered vessel, walking excavator, and giant calculating machines, in these days the most characteristics symbols of technological progress are proportionate to the people themselves.
This might include the expanding variety of informational technologies, which are realized within the scale of a personal computer, and biomedical technologies, which are by definition commensurate to humans and which allow today performing manipulations with human genes on the molecular level. More than thirty years ago, one of the most interesting philosophers of the twentieth century, Hans Jonas, discussing the problems of the experiments on human, outlined the necessity to limit the appetites of “number-hungry research industry”, where he pointed to that, “scientific community…will have to fight a strong temptation to go by routine to the readiest sources of supply—the suggestible, the ignorant, the dependent, the “captive” in various senses.” (JONAS, 1969)
In that regard, fighting these “temptations” what are the ethical considerations put before the technology today? After all, as Kant stated, “morality is not properly the doctrine how we should make ourselves happy, but how we should become worthy of happiness.” (Moore & Bruder, 2008, p. 270) This paper shed light on several contemporary issues that might pose ethical concerns, along with the philosophical views from an ethical context that correspond to such concerns.
Principle Issues
The first principal issue which poses an ethical dilemma is the issue of cloning. The main idea of the issue of research in this area can be divided into reproductive cloning, cloning technologies and stem cells. Among the possible benefits of stem cells research, which is the basis of cloning materials, is the possibility of “using such cells to generate more specialized cells or tissue, which could allow the generation of new cells to be used to treat injuries or diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, and kidney failure.” (National Bioethics Advisory Commission, 1999)
The second principal issue, which can be also related to the field of genetics and would not have been possible without the advancements in technology, is the selection of the babies’ sex. The research along with the recommendations regarding its regulation, propose that the parents would be able to select the sex of their baby.
The main argument is that there are parents who already have one or more children of the same sex, and thus, would like to have the possibility to select the sex of their next child.
Another principal issue related to the advancement of technology can be seen through selective abortion. The advancement in technology allows the recognition of any anomalies, defects, or genetic disorders which the fetuses might have and thus, giving the opportunity to the parents to terminate pregnancy. (Raven, 2009)
Views
Taking the perspective of the public the view regarding the aforementioned issues might vary in their opposition and support. In terms of cloning and stem cells research, the ethical consideration might be seen in that the fetuses, which are used as a source for the cells have a certain moral status. Although these fetuses were not implanted and were only created for fertility treatments, they are entitled to protection. On the other hand, it is argued that embryos have not reached gastrulation, and nevertheless, they are treated with respect, and not as properties, but rather with connection to their origin. Thus, the ethical consideration that arises, is whether it is morally right to use the embryos as a research material, and accordingly, in terms of reproductive cloning, is it right to create copies of ourselves.
The issue of sex selection is close to cloning in terms of its views and the methods used in reports; only the technological development allows the involvement in the process of the selection by the parents. One area of ethical concern can be seen through the occurrence of a gender bias in certain areas of the world, making it unethical to involve in the way gender is naturally distributed. On the other hand, parents who have limited opportunities in having a baby might see this as an opportunity to plan their child’s sex.
At last, the selective abortions obviously have some benefits, but nevertheless, they have certain ethical considerations regarding the status of the fetuses and their protection. Similarly, as in cloning, the fetuses do have a certain status and, thus require protection. The views supporting the selective abortion refer to the desire of the parents to have healthy children, and thus they want the next pregnancy to have a superior child.
Philosophy Support
As most of the questions raised within the posed issues are related to moral judgments, the views regarding them stem from moral philosophy. Taking the issue of cloning, the view that supports the aforementioned issue might be seen through the prism of Utilitarianism, where the moral judgment and “the rightness of an action is identical with the happiness it produces as its consequence.” (Moore & Bruder, 2008) Thus, taking the benefits of the researches made on fetuses, and the “happiness” that these researches produce by finding the cures for so many diseases, it can be seen that such philosophical position supports stem cell researches. Accordingly, the current judgment is best suited to the position of Bentham, or what is called act utilitarianism, “the rightness of an act is determined by its effect on the general happiness.” (Moore & Bruder, 2008, p. 305)
Similarly, analyzing the sex selection issue, the support of against such practice can be seen through the ideas of feminism. Specifically, it can be argued that such selection might enforce sexism. Related to the issues of sex, Marilyn Frye argues that “men and women are trained to keep themselves distinct from each other.” (Moore & Bruder, 2008, p. 485) Accordingly, the ability to choose would put preferences in certain societies for certain gender, and thus differences between genders will be reinforced promoting sexism, e.g. choosing boys for rural areas to work in farms. Accordingly, looking to the work of Simone de Beauvoir, the feminist perspective for women is being considered the other in patriarchal world.
Selective abortions arguments might be seen through the desire to have healthy kids. Accordingly, the rightness of such argument can be supported by Nietzsche’s views on morality. Nietzsche considered that the master morality is the morality of noble individuals, and in which the enhancement of the species is always the result of aristocratic societies, which… are the ultimate justification of human social existence.” (Moore & Bruder, 2008, pp. 305-306) Thus, according to Nietzsche, the selective abortion is an enhancement of species, and as long as this selection process does not harm the individuals, it cannot be considered harmful.
Conclusion
It can be seen that the presented aspects indeed pose an ethical consideration and are caused by the advancement in technology. It can be assumed that the closer the technology will be to the people, the harder the ethical questions will be to solve. Nevertheless, it can be seen that the arguments that either support or oppose the presented issues are not new, where they rely on different views on the philosophy of morals that attempts to establish what is good and what is morally wrong. It should be mentioned that as long as the question regarding an issue is present, there is no right or wrong answer.
References
Bhattacharya, S. (2005). Radical report supports baby sex selection. New Scientist.
JONAS, H. (1969). Philosophical Reflections on Experimenting with Human Subjects. Journal of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 219-247.
Moore, B. N., & Bruder, K. (2008). Philosophy : The power of ideas (7th ed.). Boston: McGraw-Hill.
National Bioethics Advisory Commission. (1999). ETHICAL ISSUES IN HUMAN STEM CELL RESEARCH. National Bioethics Advisory Commission.
Raven, P. (2009). Neo-eugenics – the ethics of prenatal screening.Futurismic.