Ethical consideration involved with human cloning
In today's world, human cloning is a hugely debated topic. Filled with a range of ethical issues, people argue over whether, even if we were to become capable of cloning individuals, we should do it or not
After reading Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, it made me think about the compassion people share or should feel for robots and clones. The main arguments were that on the off chance that something isn't human, at that point why treat it like one? For what reason should sentiments and feelings even be considered? The same argument is made for animals like Fern in the book We are completely beside ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler and for robots like Ava in the movie Ex Machina. Many people assume that since animals aren't human, they shouldn't be treated with similar regard and esteem that people are required to use for each other.
Ishiguro’s novel portrays a boarding school where the main characters are clones that are used for their organs. When Kathy and Tommy find their actual reason at Hailsham is to donate their organs it left me with many inquiries concerning the ethical issues confronted.
Even though Hailsham can be seen as a place that tries to change how society looks at clones, by the day's end the clones are yet expected to become donors when they turn into adults. So how is society expected to see them as something besides donors? Their purpose in life has already been predestined and the conditions they are going to confront are unavoidable.
I ask my readers to think about this - Can we genuinely feel for clones or robots that in reality help the human cause? If a clone could donate its organs to help cure a person then why should I care at all for clones? It's hard to address because that a part of me feels frustrated about what occurs, both in the novel and the general possibility in our society which in turn could benefit humans but then a part of me also feels sorry for the clones as their fate is sealed.
If something can talk like a human, behave like a human and encounter feelings like a human then isn't it right to say it is human? I want to say yes but then greed comes to mind. On the off chance that taking a clone's organ would help spare my own life or that of a friend or family member, at that point for what reason would I hesitate? I wouldn't be truthful to myself if I said I would. If it makes me narrow-minded and selfish, at that point, so be it. But at the same time, it's difficult for me to approve how the clones were brought up in Hailsham.
The referenced statement shows how Miss Lucy was the only guardian ready to tell the students what they were in for in a forthright way. I think what she implied by this was for the good of the clone, they needed to realize what was going to happen to them and how they should prepare themselves up. She wanted them to understand their reality and somehow live through it the best possible way
Even though she loses her position due to her open association with the students, it was clear that she truly cared about the student clones and didn't concur with taking the organs from them. Again this brings up the question of ethics. But the more thought I give to this ethical issue, the more I agree that what was done to the clones in the novel is wrong. Towards the end of the novel Kathy, Ruth and Tommy experience things that turned out to be too human that the idea of tearing their organs out for the individuals who it was "necessary" for appeared to be too cruel
Ishiguro’s novel portrays a boarding school where the main characters are clones that are used for their organs. When Kathy and Tommy find their actual reason at Hailsham is to donate their organs it left me with many inquiries concerning the ethical issues confronted.
Even though Hailsham can be seen as a place that tries to change how society looks at clones, by the day's end the clones are yet expected to become donors when they turn into adults. So how is society expected to see them as something besides donors? Their purpose in life has already been predestined and the conditions they are going to confront are unavoidable.
I ask my readers to think about this - Can we genuinely feel for clones or robots that in reality help the human cause? If a clone could donate its organs to help cure a person then why should I care at all for clones? It's hard to address because that a part of me feels frustrated about what occurs, both in the novel and the general possibility in our society which in turn could benefit humans but then a part of me also feels sorry for the clones as their fate is sealed.
If something can talk like a human, behave like a human and encounter feelings like a human then isn't it right to say it is human? I want to say yes but then greed comes to mind. On the off chance that taking a clone's organ would help spare my own life or that of a friend or family member, at that point for what reason would I hesitate? I wouldn't be truthful to myself if I said I would. If it makes me narrow-minded and selfish, at that point, so be it. But at the same time, it's difficult for me to approve how the clones were brought up in Hailsham.
“If you’re to live decent lives, you have to know who you are and what lies ahead of you, every one of you”- Miss Lucy, (81).
The referenced statement shows how Miss Lucy was the only guardian ready to tell the students what they were in for in a forthright way. I think what she implied by this was for the good of the clone, they needed to realize what was going to happen to them and how they should prepare themselves up. She wanted them to understand their reality and somehow live through it the best possible way
Even though she loses her position due to her open association with the students, it was clear that she truly cared about the student clones and didn't concur with taking the organs from them. Again this brings up the question of ethics. But the more thought I give to this ethical issue, the more I agree that what was done to the clones in the novel is wrong. Towards the end of the novel Kathy, Ruth and Tommy experience things that turned out to be too human that the idea of tearing their organs out for the individuals who it was "necessary" for appeared to be too cruel
After reading this novel, Ishiguro definitely left me with questions regarding ethics. I faced a personal battle trying to figure out whether or whether or not what was happening to the clones in the novel is ethically right but then I had this thought which I pose to all the readers out there to clear any doubt that they still might have on the ethical issue.
Imagine you were in Tommy, Ruth and Kathy's place and your fate was sealed. How would you feel? How would you feel knowing that your purpose in life would only amount to serving others and dying just so that someone else could live longer? Does it not feel wrong? Is it not unfair to these "clones"?
These are the thoughts that make me realize that although the clones would allow humans to live longer, it is still wrong to treat them this way because they are not "Clones" they are human just like us and putting them in this situation would be no less than murder.
Considering all these facts,in my opinion, it unethical for clones to be put into this situation as it is immoral but yet again everyone is entitled to their own opinion so I ask you the readers the question-What do you think about this ethical consideration?
Imagine you were in Tommy, Ruth and Kathy's place and your fate was sealed. How would you feel? How would you feel knowing that your purpose in life would only amount to serving others and dying just so that someone else could live longer? Does it not feel wrong? Is it not unfair to these "clones"?
These are the thoughts that make me realize that although the clones would allow humans to live longer, it is still wrong to treat them this way because they are not "Clones" they are human just like us and putting them in this situation would be no less than murder.
Considering all these facts,in my opinion, it unethical for clones to be put into this situation as it is immoral but yet again everyone is entitled to their own opinion so I ask you the readers the question-What do you think about this ethical consideration?
The ethical considerations around cloning are very debatable. In your argument, you bring up these ideas and consider the significance of clones, robots, and animals. One of the most difficult questions to answer from your post is whether or not we should feel for clones for doing their job and potentially saving a human's life. Technically, there are "just" clones, and yes, a potential human life could be saved. At the same time, though, these clones have consciousnesses, live fulfilling lives, and make meaningful contributions to societies. It is somewhat difficult not to relate and feel for them. I open this question now to the public. What are your thoughts on the lives of clones?
ReplyDeleteTo be entirely honest, I do feel that the human society of Never Let Me Go was being needlessly cruel and unethical. Their technology had progressed to the point where they could make fully functional human clones, which would indicate they could also do what we do in labs today, growing individual organs. If this society has the resources to produce such a huge number of clones, then they have the resources to grow individual organs for anyone who needs one. In my mind, the ethical consideration here is entirely unnecessary because we don't need to make clones for an organ farm in the first place.
ReplyDeleteThis was really interesting to read. It was interesting to try to imagine myself in the world of Never Let Me Go and think about how I would behave towards to clones. I think the the society in Never Let me Go was unfair to the students. I thought they made the students feel worthless and treated them as monsters. My question to the public is: Do you think the humans in Never Let Me Go were humans?
ReplyDeleteThis blog really made me think about where I should be putting my emotion and how much I should feel for things that are not labeled explicitly human. I think that robots, even though they show every human trait imaginable, do not deserve full love, emotion, and care. For me, it's hard to care about something that is only wired to pretend to care about me. With no biological function I cannot let myself label something as human that was made from parts and pieces. On the other, hand I can have an abundance of care and emotion for animals. Although they are not human I know that they have the capacity for true emotion. Animals are not wired for functioning. With this being said I agree with you Rishabh in that I think clones deserve attention and rights.
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