Animal Cloning: The Ethical,
Social, and Political Contexts
Reading Assignment:
- Krauthammer, Charles (1997). A Special
Report on Cloning. Time 149, vol 10:60-61.
- Kluger, Jeffrey (1997). Will We Follow
The Sheep? Time 149, vol 10:66-72.
- Wright, Robert (1997). Can Souls Be
Xeroxed? Time 149, vol 10:73.
- Biggin, Susan (1996). Embryo Report
Opens Old Wounds. Science 273:177.
- Pennisi, Elizabeth and Nigel Williams
(1997). Will Dolly Send in the Clones? Science 275:1415-1416.
- Williams, Nigel (1997). Cloning Sparks
Calls for New Laws. Science 275:1415.
- Marshall, Elliot (1997). Mammlian
Cloning Debate Heats Up. Science 275: 1733.
- Marshall, Eliot (1997). Embryologist
Dismayed by Sanctions Against Geneticist. Science 275:
472.
- Kolata, Gina (1997). Workaday World of
Stock Breeding Clones Blockbuster. New York Times: Feb
25.
- Kevles, Daniel (1997). Study Cloning,
Don’t Ban It. New York Times: Feb 26.
- Callahan, Daniel (1997), A Step Too
Far. New York Times: Feb 26.
- Safire, William (1997). Clonalities.
New York Times: Feb 26.
The objective of this discussion is
two-fold:
- to demonstrate how consensible
knowledge can be used in both public and private decision
making.
- to explore the social, ethical, and
political contexts of the practice of science.
Do not be alarmed by the number of items to
be read. Most are one or two pages long.
- As you read these articles you should
make the following lists:
- the ethical issues that you
encounter,
- the types of policies in
place, or proposed, by various governments,
- the social concerns and
possible benefits described in the articles.
- Bring these lists to class with you to
aid in your discussion.
- Also as you read ask yourself how
current cultural values will effect the policy on
cloning, and how those values may change in the next 20
years.
- Finally, try to understand the
politics of the scientists. To do this pay special
attention to the article by Kolata. Then ask yourself how
"scientific politics" can shape the study of
science and its applications.