Finding Common Ground: Resolving the Controversy that Surrounds Stem Cell Research

The extensive debate over ethics of radical cell enquiry provides a number of differing points of weighs. Most of these take strongly argue sides in either justifying or rejecting radix cell research on that pointby enhancing the dilemma faced by the common man in understanding the issue. The politics of compassionate stem cell research has withal added to the impasse with protagonists and opponents using time worn cliches and tactics to sustain their ends. Lebacqz and early supplement this debate by providing somewhat parallel to that extent opposing perspectives. speckle Lebacqz justifies stem cell research ground on the opinion of note which is due to an entity be it living or non living, little seeks to view the same from an ethical rather than a clean-living perspective. Thus authors K aren Lebacqz and Ernle one-year-old contemplate the wide good luck between acceptance and objection to humans stem cell research. Lebacqz believes that it is possible to keep a n eye on embryos and embryonic tissue paper by adopting an atypical approach. This can come about by treating a tissue as an entity with set.Lebacqz states, I speak of adoreing embryos and embryonic tissue, because the creation of embryonic stem cells involves use of an early embryo (blastocyst) from which particular tissue (inner cell mass) is derived and manipulated. Lebacqz defines respect by alluding to the interpretation provided by Downie and Telfer in, Respect for Persons. Respect for Persons provides an ends based rather than a means based view of deference. Respect is therefore an end in itself rather than a means to gain vantage for the person offering veneration. Lebacqz also adds, Having respect involves ways of thinking and odour as well as ways of acting. In order to sufficiently respect another person, you must exercise empathy. It is important not to call anything on that soulfulness that you would not be willing to accept for yourself. However, Lebacqz admit s that there are some differences between a fully developed human and an embryo. For instance, embryos lack self-determination and rational will. Thus applying similar norms to an embryo as that applied to a fully developed human is contentious and sparks numerous passionate debates. To overcome this deficiency, Lebacqz provides other methods of offering respect than those that could be applicable to embryos.These include the type of value offered to non-persons, sentient beings, plants, and ecosystems. In her essay, Lebacqz therefore illustrates how the definition of respect is mutable as it relates to various things and concepts. Lebacqz thus provides a troika pointed approach to justify stem cell research to include respect, empathy and valuing it as being part of the overall ecosystem. Ernle untried on the other move on argues that difference in perspective arises because of differential between ethical and moral arguments on stem cells.According to Young morality is, An at tempt of unmarrieds, or of groups, to live out in daily attitudes and actions their visions of the highest good. Morality is commonly associated with sacred tradition. In contrast ethics employs a common public spoken communication in justifying assertions about prescribed or proscribed attitudes and actions. Ethics adopts a more universal and secular academic approach or law maculation morality is exclusivist thereby narrowing opinions to traditional positions. Young believes that the gap between morality and ethics is the main cause of debate in society over stem cell research.In her essay, Young refers to the contract to respect an individuals moral view in judge the argument on stem cells research. It is important to respect morals and opinions of commonwealth of different religious backgrounds. In order to do this, it is imperative to recollect a common language between groups which can be achieved by replacing moral reasoning by ethical thinking. Therefore Young sug gests a secular rather than a pious attitude in viewing stem cell research thereby broadening the argument to a more congruent and contemporary universalistic approach.Rights of non persons are a common thread in the writings of Lebacqz and Young. By attempting to explain these privileges some(prenominal) writers bring more focus to the argument point though their views are diametrically opposite. Lebacqz uses animal rights as an example. Lebacqz explains, If respect is restricted to rights (along the model of respect for autonomous persons), the difficulty becomes specifying what constitute appropriate animal rights. However, it is not indispensable to use rights language to see animals as deserving of respect. In contrast, Young feels that this sentiment can be taken too far. Specifically, Young criticizes Schweitzers philosophy regarding all living things. According to Schweitzer, every living beingness has full and equal moral status. Young explains that this makes brushing ones teeth as problematic as killing flies, cockroaches, and mice, or even members of our own species. Young believes the flaw in this line of reasoning is in the assumption that all living things have a will to live. wherefore there is the issue of more abstract concepts and their relationship to respect. Lebacqz and Young some(prenominal) mention human consideration for ecosystems. They both establish that sentience but is not a criterion for deserving respect. Once again, Lebacqz mentions the concept of value in regard to ecosystems. Lebacqz explains, First there is the independent value of dick and the ecosystem itself. Therefore, the struggle seems to be finding a value system that acknowledges the individual commodity of stem cells, while respecting their importance in the web of life.While both authors make strong points, the overall argument may get on unconvincing to many. According to both Lebacqz and Young the goal is to find a method that allows the existence of st em cell research for the betterment of humans, while finding a common moral ground that respects individual beliefs. The essence of the argument on stem cell research thus lies in placing it in perspective with reference to benefit to humans as well as the overall organic eco system.Once this is established as a truism, fostering the idea should be possible by winning a combination of the ethical argument suggested by Young and empathy and respect towards non persons indicated by Lebacqz. Given that stem cell research is an evolving scientific phenomenon which has yet to acquire critical mass it is believed that once sufficient evidence of its relevancy is available adoption of rights, ethics and empathy based approach will hire to its common acceptance. Till such time believers and skeptics will continue to bear witness numerous arguments to prove their respective points of views.