Public Voice Argument

The article “listening for the Public Voice” by Robert Cook-Deegan and Jane Maienchein discuses the many arguments, both for and against, surround human embryo gene mutation and experimentation. They then provide multiple examples from scientific history in which the practices had faced the same amount of scrutiny from the public, yet once people saw the rewards that could result from these practices, they allowed these practices to become “normal”.
In the article “Listening for the Public Voice”, Robert Cook-Deegan and Jane Maienchein argue the public voice has more power than most people think, if it is used correctly. They do this through logical reasoning with specific examples in society where this has happened in order to encourage the public to stand strong in what they believe. A great example used is the idea of a “test tube” baby. When this practice was first brought into conception, many people felt it to be unnatural, and it faced a lot of scrutiny from religious groups and other non-affiliated people. However, over time, the movement against it started to falter in the face of private industry conducting the experiments …show more content…
However, Cook-Deegan and Maienchein then state the flaw in these groups arguments, “They may well listen to scientists, but religious and moral doctrine will get greater weight”(Cook-Deegan). By exposing this fatal flaw to argument, Cook-Deegan and Maienchein prove the point they address in the beginning, in the fact these differences in moral philosophy cause them to fight amongst themselves on whose right, which can then allow the media to release bias information and pull people to their side. By keeping the citizens divided and fighting amongst themselves, they are able to halt the movement against progress in matters such as embryo