Normative Ethical Theories - Embryo Testing

Question 1

natural moral law and embryos in science

proportionalism, fellowship

Answer 1

• primary precepts: disrupts order in society; leads to discrimination and an idealised version of what a human being should be
• reproduce: goes against gods will ‘be fruitful and multiply’ + kills innocent life –> these are absolute laws
• apparent goods: research + therapeutic cloning saves lives , but actually kills the embryo
• synderesis rule: destroying the embryo is deontologically a bad action
• double effect: good intention leads to a bad action
• sanctity of life: only god can take away life and we cannot dictate
• ‘love thy neighbour’ helping others with research but embryo is still a neighbour
• killing the embryo does not allow the embryo or the scientist to reach fellowship with god
• proportionalism: lives saved by medicine>lives lost in the process

Question 2

situation ethics and embryos in science

Answer 2

allowed if love and justice is apparent in the testing and use

• most loving outcome, concerned with teleology
• situationism, = subjective –> neocausitry, a designer baby is bad but stem cell research and PGD is good
• rejection of legalism and antinomianism: situationism takes into consideration all factors: where they come from what they are used for
• conscience: active part of decision making

Question 3

situation ethics 4 presumptions and embryos in science

Answer 3

• relativism: neocausitry
• pragmatism: consider all the factors and choosing reasonably
• personalism: what is best for people
• positivism: gods love? curing a disease vs killing gods creation

Question 4

situations ethics 6 fundamental principles and embryo testing

Answer 4

• most loving action? justice
• loving justifies the means (loving end result)

Question 5

virtue ethics and embryo testing

why would it go against it

Answer 5

• telos: embryo had potential life or its death was purposeful to the greatest good –> eudaimonia for all
• secular: applicable to all may support science but asks when life begins?
• character-based: is embryo testing virtuous, when does life begin
• moral virtues: courage of the scientists, using embryos despite personal beliefs; generosity: sacrificing one life for curing disease (parents of the embryo) –> golden mean: regulation is needed, UK laws
• intellectual virtues: episteme: using embryo in a scientific way for medicine , phronesis: our personal needs vs others and eubolia: resourcefulness
• designer babies demonstrate vanity and pride –> a vice not virtuous
• community –> utilitarianism vs dying embryos weaken the community, but stems cells help the community
• reason: needs to be reasoned: research is scientifically sound and has potential to help