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Opinion,
Comment & Reviews
Reproductive technologies |
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For
a human-centred morality
By Ann Furedi
'Science v morals'. That was the way nearly every news commentator
described this week's UK House of Lords debate on embryo research.
And you can sense that this is exactly how many in the media
see this debate. Nasty practical science that we really wish
we didn't have to tolerate, pitted against high-minded ethical
ideals. Even those who are in favour of new scientific research
betray a sense of ethical unease and a need to apologise for
being pragmatic.
But it is about time we stopped indulging the various bishops,
rabbis and other reactionaries and Luddites in the myth that
they occupy the moral high ground in this debate. And it's
about time scientists stopped their sheepish apologies and
made a robust defence of their actions.
I can think of little that is more moral than struggling to
develop science, with the aim of relieving human suffering.
The claim 'I was striving to advance human knowledge' should
be regarded as a stout ethical defence, not an apology.
When cutting-edge researchers, like controversial embryologist
Simon Fishel, face themselves in the mirror, they know they
have not only alleviated the suffering of individuals but
that they have also contributed to a science that can take
humanity forward. Presumably the self-appointed moral guardians
feel a greater rush of self-righteous self-pride for trying
to save our souls - but I know to whom I accord moral worth.
I am amazed at how the myth that science is running ahead
of social debate is spat out time and time again by columnist
after columnist. Far from it: the media spends so much time
debating the rights and wrongs of embryo experimentation and
reproductive technology that every commuter on my regular
train into London has a view about stem cell research.
When faced with the argument that science is going too fast
and that there are not enough safeguards, we should argue
that, on the contrary, we are progressing too slowly and it
is both immoral and unethical to allow conservatism to fetter
the developments that could benefit us all.
Those who truly have no morals are those who would turn their
backs on the human suffering that disease and illness causes,
and hide behind principles that do not allow humanity to make
genuine ethical choices. It is far easier to adopt the absolute
principle that human life is sacred from conception than it
is to venture on the slippery path of deciding how the potential
humanity of an embryo should be balanced against the need
for research.
It would be far preferable if, in debates such as these, scientists
adopted the compelling arrogance of Professor John Harris,
who dismisses out of hand the concern that, once on a slippery
slope, you slide inexorably to the bottom. He reminds us that,
as every skier knows, slippery slopes are not to be avoided
but to be skilfully negotiated.
The proof of true moral worth is the ability, and the willingness,
to attempt that negotiation. By exercising our own moral capability,
and valuing that of others, we demonstrate our humanity.
This article appears on the new, comment-based website, Spiked
http://www.spiked-online.com
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