McMahan's "Killing Embryos for Stem Cell Research"
Questions for discussion:
1. What is the moral status of embryos?
2. What is McMahan's argument?
3. What does it mean, according to McMahan, to exist as an early embryo?
4. Did you or I exist as an early embryo?
I believe that every one of us existed as an early embryo. One sperm unites with the egg and creates a unique individual. Based on the chromosomes present, it creates the person that we are. However, not all people share this view and it is a difficult issue. Some believe that a human is not present until the heart beat is heard, while others believe that it is not a human until later in the pregnancy. This is a very controversial issue depending on one's beliefs.
Many people have different views on the respect an embryo should receive. Some feel that embryos are not yet truly human and are of beneficial use in stem cell research. They do not see it as abortion but rather as a means to cure disease, etc... Others such as the Catholic Church view life starting at conception. They view the use of embryos as a form of abortion. They are against stem cell research as they believe every being has the right to protection and life.
I believe that it is immoral to kill embryos. I don't agree with McMahan's "Killing Embryos for Stem Cell Research" because we all began as human embryos therefore I don't think its morally just to do it for research. We all started as embryos and we have the same moral status then as we have now. McMahan argues that we never existed as human embryos so if he believes that then I can see how he would think that there was nothing wrong with it. But I personally disagree and science shows that human life begins with an embryo so I don't see how he doesn't understand that. Since McMahan believes we are not embryos he thinks by killing an embryo you are not killing a person like you or I but it "merely prevents one of us from existing". I clearly disagree with this, we all began as embryos and discarding or killing embryos is morally wrong in my opinion. McMahan doesn't believe that there is a life in an embryo but he doesn't have to, its science, its already proven.
I find it hard to say that something a precious a life should be used to help further research elsewhere. Yes, McMahan argues that we never existed as human embryos if that is even to be the case who are we to take the life of innocent children. I have a hard time with topics like this and the value of one's life because I fear that as a society we begin to play the role of God and that is something that shouldn’t be tampered with. Life is too precious to be prevented or decided by men sitting behind a desk.
How can researchers live the lives they live when killing embryos. Even if it is for research and for the greater good of people, why does it have to come from embryos? They can't say stop or defend their own right because they are helpless, but that doesn't mean that they are helpless enough that we should be killing them and using it for research. By scientists determining life or death and playing God, where is the line drawn of who to research on and who it is immoral to research on.
I believe we all existed as an early embryo. I do not think it is right to kill embryos and use them for research. Life is such a precious gift that we should not take from innocent children. Some may believe that life does not begin until you can hear the heartbeat, but I disagree. If our mothers would not have choosen life for us, we would obviously not be here. These embryos cannot speak up for themselves so we must. The men who are deciding whether an embryo should live or not would not be here if their mothers had not choosen life for them. I think it is unfair for them to play the role of God.
I do not agree with McMahan's beliefs. I think even as an embryo, life should not be taken for granted or used to further scientific knowledge. This is a very controversial topic and some feel very strong about one side or the other. I don't think it is morally right but I can see how some do not have the same views as me.
I am so conflicted on this topic. I think that stem cell research on adult stem cells SHOULD be done, and there is research being done to develop ways to get embryonic stem cells without actually destroying the embryo, which I think would be a good thing. My scientific side is very interested in what embryonic stem cell research could lead to in the future, and alot of my ideals about human rights are heavily based on ideas of autonomy and the presence of concious thought (neither of which, embryos have). Despite these tendencies toward supporting embryonic research, I have decided that I can't condone it morally. Each person that exists on the planet was once an embryo, and though the embryo does not look or act like what we recognize as a human being, it is in fact exactly what a human being looks and acts like at a day or two of development. Until we can develop ways to harvest embryonic stem cells without harm to the actual embryo, I do not think that EMBRYONIC stem cell research should be conducted or protected under legislation.
I believe that embryos are the beginning of human life and they have the same status as a human that has been born. McMahan argues that embryos are not considered alive; so according to him killing an embryo isn’t the same as killing a human. I don’t understand where McMahan is getting his argument about us not existing as human embryos, I believe that the embryo should be able to live and since the embryo can’t speak up for their own rights, then we need to speak of for them in order to allow them to live their life that they were given. Even though other people have a different views on this topic I believe that once there is an embryo, then the embryo should have a chance to live instead of being killed before they have a chance.
I believe that an embryo is the foundation for human life and so deserves to be given the same respect human life is given at other stages in life. McMahan argues that we never existed as human embryos. According to McMahan, this means that the killing of embryos would be morally justifiable since it would not be disrespecting human life. I disagree with him because I believe that we did in fact exist as human embryos. I understand how people could believe that the embryo does not qualify as a living person. It is strange that something so small and foreign-looking is human. However, it is a stage that all humans go through and it is the foundation all of our personal histories.
Every single human being was once a embryo. Therefore I feel that by doing research on these embryos they are saying that these human lives do not have as much value when they do. As I have said before no matter what stage of life someone is at they have just as much value. Therefore we should not be killing and harming these embryos for research. They are human beings just in another stage of their life. When McMahan says that humans do not exist as embryos I strongly disagree with his view because humans do exist as embryos and should be treated with respect
I believe that when the egg and sperm unite to become an embryo, that being is considered human. As megan stated before we all started as an embryo, why now that we are born we are considered of value. Research is important to improve our advance medicine, though there should be other ways in performing these tests. I disagree with McMahan's view on nonexistane for an embryo to be considered human. Every aspect of life should be treated with respect.
I agree with Colleen. It is no different to experiment on embryos than it would be to experiment on a fully grown human being. The same thing goes for animal testing, they are still beings that God has created. They shouldn't be meddled with.
Life begins with the sperm meets the egg. Growth immediately after this action occurs. I don't think its something that should be taken so lightly as running tests and comparing which embryo will be the best. You cannot chose which embryo you have when its ole natural y have those choices now? Ppl fight abortion but the labs are killing at a way higher rate but you don't see protesting on their lawn.
I believe that every one of us existed as an early embryo. One sperm unites with the egg and creates a unique individual. Based on the chromosomes present, it creates the person that we are. However, not all people share this view and it is a difficult issue. Some believe that a human is not present until the heart beat is heard, while others believe that it is not a human until later in the pregnancy. This is a very controversial issue depending on one's beliefs.
ReplyDeleteMany people have different views on the respect an embryo should receive. Some feel that embryos are not yet truly human and are of beneficial use in stem cell research. They do not see it as abortion but rather as a means to cure disease, etc... Others such as the Catholic Church view life starting at conception. They view the use of embryos as a form of abortion. They are against stem cell research as they believe every being has the right to protection and life.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is immoral to kill embryos. I don't agree with McMahan's "Killing Embryos for Stem Cell Research" because we all began as human embryos therefore I don't think its morally just to do it for research. We all started as embryos and we have the same moral status then as we have now. McMahan argues that we never existed as human embryos so if he believes that then I can see how he would think that there was nothing wrong with it. But I personally disagree and science shows that human life begins with an embryo so I don't see how he doesn't understand that. Since McMahan believes we are not embryos he thinks by killing an embryo you are not killing a person like you or I but it "merely prevents one of us from existing". I clearly disagree with this, we all began as embryos and discarding or killing embryos is morally wrong in my opinion. McMahan doesn't believe that there is a life in an embryo but he doesn't have to, its science, its already proven.
ReplyDeleteI find it hard to say that something a precious a life should be used to help further research elsewhere. Yes, McMahan argues that we never existed as human embryos if that is even to be the case who are we to take the life of innocent children. I have a hard time with topics like this and the value of one's life because I fear that as a society we begin to play the role of God and that is something that shouldn’t be tampered with. Life is too precious to be prevented or decided by men sitting behind a desk.
ReplyDeleteHow can researchers live the lives they live when killing embryos. Even if it is for research and for the greater good of people, why does it have to come from embryos? They can't say stop or defend their own right because they are helpless, but that doesn't mean that they are helpless enough that we should be killing them and using it for research. By scientists determining life or death and playing God, where is the line drawn of who to research on and who it is immoral to research on.
ReplyDeleteI believe we all existed as an early embryo. I do not think it is right to kill embryos and use them for research. Life is such a precious gift that we should not take from innocent children. Some may believe that life does not begin until you can hear the heartbeat, but I disagree. If our mothers would not have choosen life for us, we would obviously not be here. These embryos cannot speak up for themselves so we must. The men who are deciding whether an embryo should live or not would not be here if their mothers had not choosen life for them. I think it is unfair for them to play the role of God.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with McMahan's beliefs. I think even as an embryo, life should not be taken for granted or used to further scientific knowledge. This is a very controversial topic and some feel very strong about one side or the other. I don't think it is morally right but I can see how some do not have the same views as me.
ReplyDeleteI am so conflicted on this topic. I think that stem cell research on adult stem cells SHOULD be done, and there is research being done to develop ways to get embryonic stem cells without actually destroying the embryo, which I think would be a good thing. My scientific side is very interested in what embryonic stem cell research could lead to in the future, and alot of my ideals about human rights are heavily based on ideas of autonomy and the presence of concious thought (neither of which, embryos have).
ReplyDeleteDespite these tendencies toward supporting embryonic research, I have decided that I can't condone it morally. Each person that exists on the planet was once an embryo, and though the embryo does not look or act like what we recognize as a human being, it is in fact exactly what a human being looks and acts like at a day or two of development. Until we can develop ways to harvest embryonic stem cells without harm to the actual embryo, I do not think that EMBRYONIC stem cell research should be conducted or protected under legislation.
I believe that embryos are the beginning of human life and they have the same status as a human that has been born. McMahan argues that embryos are not considered alive; so according to him killing an embryo isn’t the same as killing a human. I don’t understand where McMahan is getting his argument about us not existing as human embryos, I believe that the embryo should be able to live and since the embryo can’t speak up for their own rights, then we need to speak of for them in order to allow them to live their life that they were given. Even though other people have a different views on this topic I believe that once there is an embryo, then the embryo should have a chance to live instead of being killed before they have a chance.
ReplyDeleteI believe that an embryo is the foundation for human life and so deserves to be given the same respect human life is given at other stages in life. McMahan argues that we never existed as human embryos. According to McMahan, this means that the killing of embryos would be morally justifiable since it would not be disrespecting human life. I disagree with him because I believe that we did in fact exist as human embryos. I understand how people could believe that the embryo does not qualify as a living person. It is strange that something so small and foreign-looking is human. However, it is a stage that all humans go through and it is the foundation all of our personal histories.
ReplyDeleteEvery single human being was once a embryo. Therefore I feel that by doing research on these embryos they are saying that these human lives do not have as much value when they do. As I have said before no matter what stage of life someone is at they have just as much value. Therefore we should not be killing and harming these embryos for research. They are human beings just in another stage of their life. When McMahan says that humans do not exist as embryos I strongly disagree with his view because humans do exist as embryos and should be treated with respect
ReplyDeleteI believe that when the egg and sperm unite to become an embryo, that being is considered human. As megan stated before we all started as an embryo, why now that we are born we are considered of value. Research is important to improve our advance medicine, though there should be other ways in performing these tests. I disagree with McMahan's view on nonexistane for an embryo to be considered human. Every aspect of life should be treated with respect.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Colleen. It is no different to experiment on embryos than it would be to experiment on a fully grown human being. The same thing goes for animal testing, they are still beings that God has created. They shouldn't be meddled with.
DeleteLife begins with the sperm meets the egg. Growth immediately after this action occurs. I don't think its something that should be taken so lightly as running tests and comparing which embryo will be the best. You cannot chose which embryo you have when its ole natural y have those choices now? Ppl fight abortion but the labs are killing at a way higher rate but you don't see protesting on their lawn.
ReplyDelete