Catarina Garcia
Engbrock
English DC
9 March 2018
Mini Research Paper
An example of modern science/technology that I think oversteps moral boundaries and has yielded unwanted consequences is cloning for stem cell research. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein creates life, which could have it’s benefits, but he did not think of the problems and unwanted consequences that could result from it. Although there are benefits to cloning there are also unwanted effects and unnecessary consequences.
The main reason cloning is done is to harvest stem cells for research and for the creation of new tissues and organs. In an article by John Shea titled “What’s Wrong with Human Cloning,” he states that “the Health Department is considering …show more content…
It may seem like a good idea in the short term but in both situations the long term consequences were not thought through. In the beginning of Frankenstein, Walton, a sailor trying to reach the North Pole, is writing to his sister and says, “One man’s life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race.”(Shelley pg 25). A life lost was not worth as much as his success in his scientific endeavor, to lose the life of one man was a risk he would not hesitate to take if it meant he would reach his goal. Although there were benefits to Victor creating life and there are benefits to cloning the benefits do not outway the damage that was caused by the monster and the damage that is caused by cloning. Human embryos are being destroyed unnecessarily just like the creature caused Victor unnecessary problems that could have been avoided. Stem cells can be obtained without doing any harm and Victor could have avoided the damage done by the creature if he would have thought of the consequences or if he would have taken responsibility for his mistake instead of abandoning his creation. “Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?”(Shelley 140). The moment Victor saw the creature alive he ran from it, if he would have taken responsibility and taken care of his creation it would not have become the monster that it did. It may not have been unethical when he first had the idea to create life but once he abandoned what he created it became morally wrong. It was wrong for him to bring the creature to life and not take care of it as its
Engbrock
English DC
9 March 2018
Mini Research Paper
An example of modern science/technology that I think oversteps moral boundaries and has yielded unwanted consequences is cloning for stem cell research. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein creates life, which could have it’s benefits, but he did not think of the problems and unwanted consequences that could result from it. Although there are benefits to cloning there are also unwanted effects and unnecessary consequences.
The main reason cloning is done is to harvest stem cells for research and for the creation of new tissues and organs. In an article by John Shea titled “What’s Wrong with Human Cloning,” he states that “the Health Department is considering …show more content…
It may seem like a good idea in the short term but in both situations the long term consequences were not thought through. In the beginning of Frankenstein, Walton, a sailor trying to reach the North Pole, is writing to his sister and says, “One man’s life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race.”(Shelley pg 25). A life lost was not worth as much as his success in his scientific endeavor, to lose the life of one man was a risk he would not hesitate to take if it meant he would reach his goal. Although there were benefits to Victor creating life and there are benefits to cloning the benefits do not outway the damage that was caused by the monster and the damage that is caused by cloning. Human embryos are being destroyed unnecessarily just like the creature caused Victor unnecessary problems that could have been avoided. Stem cells can be obtained without doing any harm and Victor could have avoided the damage done by the creature if he would have thought of the consequences or if he would have taken responsibility for his mistake instead of abandoning his creation. “Why did you form a monster so hideous that even you turned from me in disgust?”(Shelley 140). The moment Victor saw the creature alive he ran from it, if he would have taken responsibility and taken care of his creation it would not have become the monster that it did. It may not have been unethical when he first had the idea to create life but once he abandoned what he created it became morally wrong. It was wrong for him to bring the creature to life and not take care of it as its