PHI 2396 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Stem Cell, Categorical Imperative, Fetus

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Philosophy
• Course: PHI 2396
• Professor: Iva Apostolova

Document Summary

Karen labacqz"s main argument is that if we accept, as we seem to, the practice of ivf, we. Karen labacqz should accept the embryonic stem cell research, without moral remorse. Further, she argues that the acceptance of ivf, and all its moral implications, call for a reformulation of the ethical position on destruction/killing human life, since both arguments for and against ivf and embryonic stem cell research are flawed. Karen labacqz"s gives two main reasons against stem cell research. First, people who believe that life begins at the moment of conception and that human fetuses and embryos are persons, believe that killing them for research purposes equals killing an innocent human being, which is not morally permissible. Second, the western moral tradition is dominated by kant"s categorical imperative, according to which we should never treat other people (persons) solely as means to another"s end. And in creating human embryos solely for embryonic stem cell research, we are doing exactly that.