I agree with the statement that we risk human dignity in the new world of reproductive technology. Now that people can choose the sex of their child, technology is much closer to allowing people be able to pick other characteristics of their baby (height, weight, ability, eye color, etc.) which is unnatural. This means having a child will no longer be a gift from God but more of a gift from science. This also means certain characteristics will be valued over others, such as if every body choose for their child to have brown eyes and not blue people may start viewing blue eyes and unattractive and will take away human dignity from those people with blue eyes. Reproductive technology risks diminishment or human dignity.
I agree with Brandon's point that reproductive technology does take away from human dignity; However, it is key to note that it is not all of science's fault. In a society where we idolize looks and try innovative techniques to transform ourselves, who are we to truly define what human dignity is? In some cultures where people are so reduced to base levels that they can hardly be differentiated from animals, where is their self worth?. Are we not being hypocritical by defending the fact that children are God's creations, so therefore we should respect it and cherish it, yet we ourselves who are "made in the image and likeliness of God" often try so hard to alter our looks that we forget and close of our inner beauties. So it is not science which causes this diminishment of human dignity, quite frankly, it begins with us doubting our own self worth and science is just an outlet to improve those doubts.
I agree as well, by making life easy to create and not a true gift from God it diminishes its value. The simpler and more convenient it is to have kids the less it becomes a blessing and the more it becomes just "getting a kid" for material purposes. Technologies like being able to choose eye color and sex of the baby also make the baby more of a possession instead of what they should be. Though these tools are great in situations when they must be used to keep someone alive, i believe they can me abused and turned into something that creates a whole knew perspective of having children.
I agree with Brandon, Cassie and Brian also. God creates all of us uniquely, with different gifts and talents. The world is basically being taking over by reproductive technologies that can determine characteristics of their baby. Science shouldn't be competing with God. Now it all seems like a large mess as if it's a war against what's right and wrong. Technologies defeat the purpose of allowing God to determine the sex of the baby naturally. I also think science is getting out of hand a little. Human dignity describes who we are. Now do we really want to be distinguished or classified as fake?? No not at all. These technologies should be intended for saving people's lives, or improving them from bad health to good. Not to satisfy the desires of the babies parents.
I think Brandon's idea of a child being a gift from science rather than a gift from God is an excellent way of describing how the processs of conception could become. Life is a gift that people seem to be taking for granted. To simply have to ability to live is a miracle in itself and a human life no matter what abilities or disabilities has the same amount of worth as any other human life because they were made by God. To me it almost seems that a life that was made through science would make that life less sacred than one created by God because it just doesn't seem natural. We are all made differently for a reason, that is a neccessary quality of the human race. If we are able to pick out how we want our kids to look like, act like, etc. the human race will slowly become uniform and differences will start to disappear
I agree with Brandon, Cassie, Brian and Ashley. New technology is changing our view of who people are supposed to be and what they are supposed to look like. Everyone has value and dignity. Although some people may not happy in the way they look, why do we feel the need to change our apperance. New science is just making matters worse. Human dignity is diminishing with new reproductive technologies.
Revised and Edited Since conception is the beginning of an embryos life then it would be a direct violation of that embryos natural right to kill it for the betterment of others. An embryo has the right to life and should have a chance at it. An embryo may not have the opportunity to speak for itself but it is one of the basic stages of human life, we all at one point were an embryo and we were giving the chance to live. So wouldn't we want someone to stick up for us, if our right to life was taken away from us since we did not have the chance to speak for ourselves and develop? If we do not start to stocking up for those who can not speak for themselves ten what are we as Catholics doing? It is said in catholic social teaching we are told that we should provide an option for the poor and vulnerable ad at the begging stage of life an embryo is very vulnerable since it can not speak for itself nor has had the chance to develop. Also there is other ways that we can advance science ad that is through adult stem cell research, which is very promising! So it is time for scientist to put in a little more work, and work with adult stem calls and stop killing harmful embryos and giving them a chance to develop. In God’s eyes everyone’s life is sacred no matter what factors may come with it. I disagree with Julia on the point that a baby developed from technology would not have the same amount of dignity as a baby born from natural conception because each living human no matter how created has the same basic human dignity and worth.
Thoughtful discussion! Cassie, great job brining in the issue of wider social pressures and Javan, it's great to see Catholic Social Teaching used in your response! One thing for you all to keep in mind is to also consider the opposing position.
i agree w/ everyone, the idea of these technologies is scary to think about. our society is to obsessed with the idea of "perfection" while in reality that is unattainable. would u rly love ur child any less just because they don't have certain characteristics i.e. blue eyes or musical talents? the whole concept is ridicules if you want to b a parent you should love your child for what it will b not what you change it to b.
I agree with the idea that the diminishment of human dignity is being risked by the developement of reproductive technology, However, i can see how some aspects of it would also be advantageous. In theory, the possibility of enabling infertile people to achieve pregnancy seems miraculous, however, when it is manipulated for nontherapeutic purposes, such as gender selection and such, i think we are walking a fine line. I oppose any type of reproductive technology because i find it very hard to say "sure you can implant a baby, but you're not allowed to change it's eyes color". I believe there are other healty alternatives such as adoption, which are quickly overlooked due to these technologies.
I agree with the statement that we risk human dignity in the new world of reproductive technology. Now that people can choose the sex of their child, technology is much closer to allowing people be able to pick other characteristics of their baby (height, weight, ability, eye color, etc.) which is unnatural. This means having a child will no longer be a gift from God but more of a gift from science. This also means certain characteristics will be valued over others, such as if every body choose for their child to have brown eyes and not blue people may start viewing blue eyes and unattractive and will take away human dignity from those people with blue eyes. Reproductive technology risks diminishment or human dignity.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brandon's point that reproductive technology does take away from human dignity; However, it is key to note that it is not all of science's fault. In a society where we idolize looks and try innovative techniques to transform ourselves, who are we to truly define what human dignity is? In some cultures where people are so reduced to base levels that they can hardly be differentiated from animals, where is their self worth?. Are we not being hypocritical by defending the fact that children are God's creations, so therefore we should respect it and cherish it, yet we ourselves who are "made in the image and likeliness of God" often try so hard to alter our looks that we forget and close of our inner beauties. So it is not science which causes this diminishment of human dignity, quite frankly, it begins with us doubting our own self worth and science is just an outlet to improve those doubts.
ReplyDeleteI agree as well, by making life easy to create and not a true gift from God it diminishes its value. The simpler and more convenient it is to have kids the less it becomes a blessing and the more it becomes just "getting a kid" for material purposes. Technologies like being able to choose eye color and sex of the baby also make the baby more of a possession instead of what they should be. Though these tools are great in situations when they must be used to keep someone alive, i believe they can me abused and turned into something that creates a whole knew perspective of having children.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brandon, Cassie and Brian also. God creates all of us uniquely, with different gifts and talents. The world is basically being taking over by reproductive technologies that can determine characteristics of their baby. Science shouldn't be competing with God. Now it all seems like a large mess as if it's a war against what's right and wrong. Technologies defeat the purpose of allowing God to determine the sex of the baby naturally. I also think science is getting out of hand a little. Human dignity describes who we are. Now do we really want to be distinguished or classified as fake?? No not at all. These technologies should be intended for saving people's lives, or improving them from bad health to good. Not to satisfy the desires of the babies parents.
ReplyDeleteI think Brandon's idea of a child being a gift from science rather than a gift from God is an excellent way of describing how the processs of conception could become. Life is a gift that people seem to be taking for granted. To simply have to ability to live is a miracle in itself and a human life no matter what abilities or disabilities has the same amount of worth as any other human life because they were made by God. To me it almost seems that a life that was made through science would make that life less sacred than one created by God because it just doesn't seem natural. We are all made differently for a reason, that is a neccessary quality of the human race. If we are able to pick out how we want our kids to look like, act like, etc. the human race will slowly become uniform and differences will start to disappear
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brandon, Cassie, Brian and Ashley. New technology is changing our view of who people are supposed to be and what they are supposed to look like. Everyone has value and dignity. Although some people may not happy in the way they look, why do we feel the need to change our apperance. New science is just making matters worse. Human dignity is diminishing with new reproductive technologies.
ReplyDeleteRevised and Edited
ReplyDeleteSince conception is the beginning of an embryos life then it would be a direct violation of that embryos natural right to kill it for the betterment of others. An embryo has the right to life and should have a chance at it. An embryo may not have the opportunity to speak for itself but it is one of the basic stages of human life, we all at one point were an embryo and we were giving the chance to live. So wouldn't we want someone to stick up for us, if our right to life was taken away from us since we did not have the chance to speak for ourselves and develop? If we do not start to stocking up for those who can not speak for themselves ten what are we as Catholics doing? It is said in catholic social teaching we are told that we should provide an option for the poor and vulnerable ad at the begging stage of life an embryo is very vulnerable since it can not speak for itself nor has had the chance to develop. Also there is other ways that we can advance science ad that is through adult stem cell research, which is very promising! So it is time for scientist to put in a little more work, and work with adult stem calls and stop killing harmful embryos and giving them a chance to develop. In God’s eyes everyone’s life is sacred no matter what factors may come with it. I disagree with Julia on the point that a baby developed from technology would not have the same amount of dignity as a baby born from natural conception because each living human no matter how created has the same basic human dignity and worth.
Thoughtful discussion! Cassie, great job brining in the issue of wider social pressures and Javan, it's great to see Catholic Social Teaching used in your response! One thing for you all to keep in mind is to also consider the opposing position.
ReplyDeletei agree w/ everyone, the idea of these technologies is scary to think about. our society is to obsessed with the idea of "perfection" while in reality that is unattainable. would u rly love ur child any less just because they don't have certain characteristics i.e. blue eyes or musical talents? the whole concept is ridicules if you want to b a parent you should love your child for what it will b not what you change it to b.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea that the diminishment of human dignity is being risked by the developement of reproductive technology, However, i can see how some aspects of it would also be advantageous. In theory, the possibility of enabling infertile people to achieve pregnancy seems miraculous, however, when it is manipulated for nontherapeutic purposes, such as gender selection and such, i think we are walking a fine line. I oppose any type of reproductive technology because i find it very hard to say "sure you can implant a baby, but you're not allowed to change it's eyes color". I believe there are other healty alternatives such as adoption, which are quickly overlooked due to these technologies.
ReplyDelete