The moral status of the embryo Flashcards

1
Q

Why consider the moral status of the embryo?

A

Unresolved debates over the status of the embryo

View link to other ethically contentious issues

Debates are political as well as personal, national and individual

Area of science and medicine in rapidly expanding so new issues emerging all the time

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2
Q

Utilitarian moral status

A

Having moral status means that one’s interests must be factored into the utility calculations of other people/ society as a whole

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3
Q

Non-utilitarian moral status

A

Having moral status that means there are reasons, independent of the consequences, for treating an entity with respect, and acting in its interests

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4
Q

Account one: biological humanity

A

We have moral status because we are human

Not just human DNA- every individual cells in our body qualifies as human life

Moment of conception

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5
Q

Account two: personhood

A

Persons have

  • sentience
  • rationality
  • capacity for moral agency
  • language

Embryos lack this feature

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6
Q

Account three: interests

A

To have interests an entity must be sentient

An embryo cannot be sentient- no nervous system thus no awareness or experience

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7
Q

Future like ours

A

The interest view fails because it cannot explain why killing a person in temporary coma is wrong

Embryo or foetus cannot take an interest in anything, it has an interest in living out its future

Murder is wrong because it deprives the victim of their future- same true according to Marquis for an embryo or foetus

We have an interest that should be respected

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8
Q

Does an embryo have moral status?

A

Human biology - yes

Personhood - no

Interests - no

Future like ours - questionable

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9
Q

Mitochondrial donation

A

Three person baby

A response to mitochondrial disease

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10
Q

Perspectives on mitochondrial disease

A

Future generations- affect children of the babies born as a result of donation

Designer babies

Religious opposition due to destruction of donor embryos

Concern over rushed vote

Cost

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