"If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed."

-Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel laureate (1879-1955)

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Stem Cell Research

1.)

http://www.unisci.com/stories/20012/0601016.htm
This article advocates and attempts to justify stem cell research.  The base of the argument rests largely on the fact that if the embryo is already to be destroyed, it would be of much greater use for stem cell research.

2.)

P1:  The embryos do not have human identity until they are 14 days old. (An embryo can split into twins anytime until then.)
P2: The embryo will be destroyed regardless of whether it is used for stem cell research.
C: Not only is it morally correct to use the embryo for scientific research but it is admirable to use something that would be destroyed for the greater good.

3.)

Should embryos be used for stem cell research?  This is a very delicate subject that I don't know enough about to feel comfortable expressing my personal opinion on it.  Thus, I will summarize the general argument.  There are some people who believe that stem cell research is completely acceptable.  However, there is another faction that believes that stem cell research destroys human life.  (The embryo contains the tissue necessary for the research and is destroyed.)  The group that believes it is wrong insists that scientists are essentially murdering innocent babies.  The scientists rebut this allegation with the assurance that the embryos would have been aborted anyway and since they are not causing the destruction of the embryos it is morally correct.  Each person must decide his own stance on this issue.

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