Cloning

Cloning


          In many controversial topics around the world, such as abortion, gun
control, legalized drugs, the death penalty, and cloning (to name a few), we can
find differing positions, and opinions. Many of these arguments, can be narrowed
down to two different views, or constructs: individualistic and communitarian
(an image of collectivism). An individualistic viewpoint "stresses the rights of
the individual as a unique being" (class review). A communitarian viewpoint is
more concerned with the good for the greatest number, "even if an individual
must suffer or sacrifice" (class review). These different elements do not
necessarily label the people as opposed to, or in favor of the topic here.   They
just show where your motivations lie, is your involvement for self fulfillment
or for the good of society? Within the contents of this paper, I will analyze
the elements of   individualism and collectivism that exist in the controversial
topic of cloning.
          When Dr. Ian Wilmut, a 52-year-old embryologist at the Roslin
Institute in Edinburgh announced on that he had replaced the genetic material of
sheep's egg with the DNA from an adult sheep, and created a lamb (Dolly), the
topic of cloning "created" many new questions of its own. None were as
controversial as: Will they apply this to humans as well? According to Dr.
Wilmut, the answer was "there is no reason in principle why you couldn't do
it"(clone humans), but he added, "All of us would find that offensive."(Wilmut
as quoted by NYTimes, Daniel Callahan, 02/26/97).
          From an individualistic viewpoint, those in favor of cloning human
beings, do not see it as morally, or ethically wrong. Many see it as an
opportunity to have children, or possibly to "re-create" a child who is dying
from a terminal illness. Using a deterministic argument, many infertile couples
are worried that any "government restrictions on human cloning might hurt their
chances some day for bearing children through new... [continues]

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