Assignment # 8

In Mary Shellie's Frankenstein, she explores the depths of the human creation.  The question of unlimited advancement of science is a very delicate one.  While one may say that if we could make life better why shouldn't we continue to push the envelope, the only problem would be: would it really be better?  Perhaps death is something that we should accept instead of playing God.  The issue of human cloning has an eerie ressemblance to the theory of Frankenstein.  While one is more gruesome, the concept is the same.  the problem with Science is that even if certain things are illegal, that doesn't mean someone won't do it.  So at the end of the day, the issue will not be circumventable.  The only thing we can do as a society is try to shape the morality of the social conscious of the people as a whole.  As depicted in Frankenstein, human ambition can sometimes backfire.  Dr. Victor Frankenstein's quest to create life while successful came at the price of his own life.  Not in the literal sense but in the sense that living is more than just being alive.  Being alive also and more importantly involves loving, having a community, and a sense of identity.  I can however say, that Dr. Frankenstein’s  act in creating life was actually a moral one under Kantian Ethics.  Kantian Ethics adhere to the following, 

"Because motive is the most important factor in Kantian ethics, it is possible for an action to have negative consequences while still being a moral act. For example, if acting out of a sense of duty you attempt to save a drowning child, but in the process you accidentally drown the child, your action is still considered a moral one" (http://www.theologicalstudies.org/articles/article/1527417/17142.htm).
  
When Victor experienced the death of a loved one he had a duty to spare others his pain in facing death; therefore his quest in creating life had just intentions. 

Blog # 7

In my opinion a scientist is not only a man or woman that wants to make the world a better place through science; he or she must also want to help society in any way they can.  Percy Julian was such a man, a true scientist.  When his home was burned down out of racism, he stood his ground.  He understood that this was an experiment.  Racists forces were trying to prove that they can push around the oppressed.  Not only did Percy Julian debunk the theories of the racist arsonists, they were an example for other people to replicate their success in fighting against racism.  Percy Julian synthesized cortizone and helped millions with arthritis.  He was a black man fighting not only deseace and pain, but also inequality and racism. 

Blog # 6

for my research paper I will use the topic of cloning humans and using them for organ harvesting.  I had the idea from an old research paper I did on the black market of organ harvesting.  As it turns out, there is actually a movie about the exact same thing.  In "Never Let me go", the topic of cloning for the purpose of organ harvesting is explored.  I will also use an article entitled "who is related to whom", as it explores the issues that relate to cloning and some of the ethical issues involved.  this article is from The Journal of Law, Healthcare and Ethics.  the main argument of this section is that " Human cloning should be respected as a barometer of what is intiitively unacceptable" (Rai, S.K et al).  Another good issue addressed int his article is the fact that the cloned person would have psychological problems knowing that it's fate had been already planned, "that his or her fate has already been substantially laid out, and so have difficulty freely and spontaniously taking responsibility for and making his or her own fate and life" Rai, S.K et al).  The issue of taking responsibility is one that is very interesting.  If a clone knows it's ultimate destiny is to be used as spare parts, what darkness can brew out of such a breach of human rights.