Who's afraid of human cloning? / Gregory E. Pence.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Pence, Gregory E.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Cloning--Moral and ethical aspects.

Cloning.

Human genetics--Moral and ethical aspects.

Human genetics.

Human reproductive technology--Moral and ethical aspects.

Human reproductive technology.

Physical Description:

xv, 181 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Md. : Rowman & Littlefield, [1998]

Summary:

Human cloning raises the most profound questions about human nature, our faith in ourselves, and our ability to make decisions that could significantly alter the character of humanity. In this exciting and accessible book, Gregory Pence offers a candid and sometimes humorous look at the arguments for and against human cloning. Originating a human being by cloning, Pence boldly argues, should not strike fear in our hearts but should be examined as a reasonable reproductive option for couples. Pence considers how popular culture has influenced the way we think about cloning, and he presents a lucid and non-technical examination of the scientific research and relevant moral issues in the cloning debate. This book is a must-read for anyone who is concerned about the impact of technology on human life and for those with interests in medical ethics, sociology, and public policy.

Contents:

1 From Dolly to Humans? 1

2 Dolly's Importance and Promise 9

What Ian Wilmut Did and Why It Was Important 9

Background on Cloning 11

What Cloning Can and Cannot Physically Reproduce 13

The New Genetic Age 15

Genetic Contributions of the Host Egg 17

The Mistake of Genetic Determinism 21

3 The False Seers of Assisted Human Reproduction 25

Beware False Prophets of Doom 25

Clone Furor: First Wave 29

Clone Furor: Second Wave 30

Clone Furor: Third Wave 31

The National Bioethics Advisory Commission (NBAC) 34

4 Misconceptions 39

Our Legacy from Science Fiction 39

Making Women Visible 44

They Would Be People 45

You Can't Reproduce Yourself 49

Lack of Informed Consent Doesn't Matter 52

Scientists Aren't Frankensteins and Strangeloves 52

Reproductive Freedom Doesn't Lead to Coercive State Eugenics 56

5 Four Questions about Ethics 59

Case #1

Sarah and Abe Shapiro 59

Does the Rule Intrude Too Much on Personal Liberty? 61

What Is the Point of the Moral Rule? 62

Why Assume the Worst Motives? 64

Why Fear Slippery Slopes? 66

6 Cloning and Sex 73

Making Babies without Sex: Morally Repugnant? 74

Plain Sex 78

Meilaender's Testimony 79

7 Twinning Human Embryos 85

Why Embryos Are Not Persons 87

Controversies about Embryos 89

The Futility of the Human Embryo Research Panel 89

Embryo Research Today: The Craziness of the Hughes Incident 91

The Importance of Wilmut's Discoveries for Understanding Humans 95

New Calls for Banning Research on Embryos 95

What Is Lost in Research 96

Recommendations of NBAC 97

8 Arguments for Allowing Human Asexual Reproduction 99

Case #2

John and Elsie Kennedy 99

Personal Liberty and the Right to Self-Reproduce 100

Benefit to Children

Improving Genetic Inheritance 101

Case #3

Richard Dunaway 102

Case #4

Robert Atworthy 104

Genetic Therapy/Correcting Genetic Disease 105

Aiding Infertile Couples 106

Valuing the Genetic Connection 108

Generalizing the Genetic Connection 110

Rawls' Argument 112

Children for Gay Men and Lesbians 114

9 Arguments against Human Asexual Reproduction 119

Against the Will of God 119

Fear of the New and Different 122

Genetic Diversity and Evolution 129

Risk of Harm to the Child 131

A Point about Control 140

Increasing Prejudice against the Disabled 141

Fostering Sexism 142

Class Injustice 143

The Slippery Slope 144

Nature versus Nurture 146

10 Regulating Human Cloning 151

The John Moore Case 151

The Case against Regulation of NST 152

The Case for Regulation 154

The Issue of Multiples 158

Against Commercialization of NST 159

The Quality of the Arguments in the NST Debate 163

The Unreality of the Human Embryo Debate 164

What Might a Good Religious Objection to NST Look Like? 165

Improving Humanity 167

Alternative Pasts and Social Control 170

Beneficent Multiples 172

A Final Prediction 174.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0847687813

0847687821

OCLC:

37712939