Stem Cells

[David Sklansky]

I don't understand why people seem to be afraid to simultaneously acknowledge that using the embryos is homicide even as they are at the same time in favor of the research. This isn't like abortion where the upside to it is not enough in most people's minds to condone killing, if that's what it is. Stem cell research could benefit humanity at least as much as winnig the war in Iraq or Vietnam. And in those cases people were willing to accept the killings of thousands of innocent cognizent humans for the supposedly greater good.

Stem cell research has a greater good, involves killing not yet cognizent humans, and in much smaller numbers. Why can't people just say it's killing, but its worth it?

[Jbrochu]

It’s a good question. For one, a decent argument can be made regarding when an embryo becomes human. Many people in favor of abortion do not believe abortion is homicide. Clearly, those people would not believe stem cell research constitutes homicide.

Secondly, human beings have an amazing ability for contradictory thought. For example, many Americans (I believe the majority) do not support euthanasia, yet they do support “pulling the plug.” Rather than end a life mercifully when all hope is lost, we often prefer to let one suffer for hours or days on end until dehydration or hunger takes its toll. Amazingly enough, we do not inflict this treatment on our pets. Almost all Americans prefer putting a beloved pet to sleep rather than have it suffer.

[David Sklansky]

"For one, a decent argument can be made regarding when an embryo becomes human."

My post was directed to those who believe an embryo is human.

[Jbrochu]

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My post was directed to those who believe an embryo is human.

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In that case, see my second point regarding our amazing capacity for contradictory thought.

[BigSoonerFan]

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In that case, see my second point regarding our amazing capacity for contradictory thought.

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I understand and agree with your point, but not particularly a good example. DS's point was in dealing with human lives. We have shown as a country that we have no regard for animal lives (60 million cats and dogs are euthanized yearly for non-medical reasons), so we can't draw a good comparison between our behavior with human lives and animal lives.

[Jbrochu]

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I understand and agree with your point, but not particularly a good example. DS's point was in dealing with human lives. We have shown as a country that we have no regard for animal lives (60 million cats and dogs are euthanized yearly for non-medical reasons), so we can't draw a good comparison between our behavior with human lives and animal lives.

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My point was not regarding the animals we euthanize for non-medical reasons. I was speaking to our practice of putting a cherished pet to sleep rather than have it suffer for no reason.

I was arguing that we treat our animals with GREATER mercy than we treat our fellow humans when we don't have the intestinal fortitude to euthanize our fellow humans but would rather "pull the plug" and prolong their suffering.

[Jbrochu]

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"For one, a decent argument can be made regarding when an embryo becomes human."

My post was directed to those who believe an embryo is human.

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I have not studied this in depth or anything, but my guess is that most people who believe embryos are human do not support stem cell research. Those that do believe embryos are human yet continue to support stem cell research often only support stem cell research using leftover embryos since they believe that these embryos were created for "the greater good" and that they're going to die anyway. They do not support creating embryos for the sole purpose of stem cell research.

An example of somebody holding this belief is Mitt Romney. However, if I had to take a guess, I would guess that Mitt would not call this homicide. We need somebody like Mitt to come answer your question.

[chezlaw]

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"For one, a decent argument can be made regarding when an embryo becomes human."

My post was directed to those who believe an embryo is human.

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I don't believe an embryo is human but if I did I would be against stem cell reseach for the same reason I would be against torturing babies even if it was for some common good.

It may help you to understand if you understand that I'm not into utilitarianism.

chez

[maurile]

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I don't believe an embryo is human but if I did I would be against stem cell reseach for the same reason I would be against torturing babies even if it was for some common good.

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If I believed that spiders were human, I would still be in favor of squashing the one that keeps making a web in my shower.

"Human" is just a label. What matters isn't the label. What matters is that, human or not, spiders lack cognizance. So do stem cells.

Killing stem cells would be bad if we only had a few of them and they were essential to creating additional cognizant humans. But that isn't the case. They are a dime a dozen.

[chezlaw]

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I don't believe an embryo is human but if I did I would be against stem cell reseach for the same reason I would be against torturing babies even if it was for some common good.

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If I believed that spiders were human, I would still be in favor of squashing the one that keeps making a web in my shower.

"Human" is just a label. What matters isn't the label. What matters is that, human or not, spiders lack cognizance. So do stem cells.

Killing stem cells would be bad if we only had a few of them and they were essential to creating additional cognizant humans. But that isn't the case. They are a dime a dozen.

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In the context of this thread, human is not just a label but is saying an embryo is equivalent to those other things we call human.

Not something I believe but if I did then would not advocate killing them for some supposed greater good.

chez