TOK ESSAY
“POSSESION OF KNOWLEDGE CARRIES AN ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY”
All people bear knowledge within themselves. Once Voltaire said, “With great power comes great responsibility”. I think knowledge is a very important and a huge part of power. Without knowledge, there would be no concept of the power. So this quotation simply states that knowledge carries responsibility with itself. In this essay I will discuss the ethical responsibility that comes with the possession of knowledge. For this argument, the definition of ethical responsibility must be clear. Ethical responsibility can be stated as the responsibility, duty of moral behaviors and following the “right” path. The most confusing part in this argument is what is ethical or right? …show more content…
There are certain types of knowledge that can affect other people or situations. In natural sciences, a lot these type of event occur. For example, in biology there are lots of examples for ethical responsibility comes from possession of knowledge. It is a fact that embryonic cells have a high capacity to develop and renew themselves. This property is very crucial and relevant for specific patients who are in need of stem cells. Patients can be cured through using the features of embryos. The problem in this situation is the death of the embryos during the process of curing the patient. If the embryos are not used then they will grow into individuals. It seems like ending a life without giving it the chance to live it. Doctors and scientist carry an ethical responsibility toward the embryos. Yet the embryos technically are not technically living, and they do not have the nerve system to assimilate the pain. This leads to the conclusion of what is right? Many people contrast on the resulted judgments. Some people state that the life begins when a baby is born, and some say that embryos are also alive and the action of using embryos is murder. In the sea of different ideas, I think the main point in this position is that the owner of the knowledge, who knows how to use an embryo for medical purposes, carries a …show more content…
Weapons for war and protection are made all over the world. It is true that new weapons carry new technologies, but they cause harm. The creator of the deadly weapons, have the responsibility for the usage. Many people die in the wars because of these mass murders. Can a human being decide who dies and who lives? I do not think it is ethical or right for someone to decide on this issue. But at the end, when they have the power and capability, they can do it, with all the consequences and responsibilities. I think all of the responsibility comes from the power. Like Voltaire said, you have to have power first to have a responsibility. For example, knowing the name of an apple is apple does not bring any significant consequences. But knowing the creation process of a nuclear bomb is highly important for the ones who does it and for the ones who are affected by it. If the knowledge is used for a good reason and the consequences are beneficial, then it is not arguable. But still it does not chance the fact that the ones who possess knowledge carry the
“POSSESION OF KNOWLEDGE CARRIES AN ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY”
All people bear knowledge within themselves. Once Voltaire said, “With great power comes great responsibility”. I think knowledge is a very important and a huge part of power. Without knowledge, there would be no concept of the power. So this quotation simply states that knowledge carries responsibility with itself. In this essay I will discuss the ethical responsibility that comes with the possession of knowledge. For this argument, the definition of ethical responsibility must be clear. Ethical responsibility can be stated as the responsibility, duty of moral behaviors and following the “right” path. The most confusing part in this argument is what is ethical or right? …show more content…
There are certain types of knowledge that can affect other people or situations. In natural sciences, a lot these type of event occur. For example, in biology there are lots of examples for ethical responsibility comes from possession of knowledge. It is a fact that embryonic cells have a high capacity to develop and renew themselves. This property is very crucial and relevant for specific patients who are in need of stem cells. Patients can be cured through using the features of embryos. The problem in this situation is the death of the embryos during the process of curing the patient. If the embryos are not used then they will grow into individuals. It seems like ending a life without giving it the chance to live it. Doctors and scientist carry an ethical responsibility toward the embryos. Yet the embryos technically are not technically living, and they do not have the nerve system to assimilate the pain. This leads to the conclusion of what is right? Many people contrast on the resulted judgments. Some people state that the life begins when a baby is born, and some say that embryos are also alive and the action of using embryos is murder. In the sea of different ideas, I think the main point in this position is that the owner of the knowledge, who knows how to use an embryo for medical purposes, carries a …show more content…
Weapons for war and protection are made all over the world. It is true that new weapons carry new technologies, but they cause harm. The creator of the deadly weapons, have the responsibility for the usage. Many people die in the wars because of these mass murders. Can a human being decide who dies and who lives? I do not think it is ethical or right for someone to decide on this issue. But at the end, when they have the power and capability, they can do it, with all the consequences and responsibilities. I think all of the responsibility comes from the power. Like Voltaire said, you have to have power first to have a responsibility. For example, knowing the name of an apple is apple does not bring any significant consequences. But knowing the creation process of a nuclear bomb is highly important for the ones who does it and for the ones who are affected by it. If the knowledge is used for a good reason and the consequences are beneficial, then it is not arguable. But still it does not chance the fact that the ones who possess knowledge carry the