Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!sri-spam!ames!sdcsvax!sdcc6!ir489
From: ir489@sdcc6.ucsd.EDU (ir489)
Newsgroups: sci.research,sci.med,talk.rumors,misc.headlines
Subject: Re: Life imitates art?
Message-ID: <3145@sdcc6.ucsd.EDU>
Date: Thu, 21-May-87 11:46:18 EDT
Article-I.D.: sdcc6.3145
Posted: Thu May 21 11:46:18 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 23-May-87 11:48:35 EDT
References: <6693@allegra.UUCP>
Organization: University of California, San Diego
Lines: 49
Summary: what this means
Xref: mnetor sci.research:90 sci.med:2127 talk.rumors:800 misc.headlines:515

In article <6693@allegra.UUCP>, atd@allegra.UUCP (Anton Dahbura) writes:

>      Chiarelli suggested that the new species could be  used
> "for labor chores that are repetitive and disagreeable... or
> as a reservoir for transplant organs."

>      The idea of an army of apeman slaves cleaning  streets,
> placing nuts and bolts on assembly line products, or waiting
> in cages to have their vital organs cut out came as a  shock
> to clergy and scientists.

Not to mention me!, a member of the general public. 

>      "I ask myself, however, what would be the scope of such
> experiments?  To create an army of slaves?"

And lets take a look at the "creature" that it would be. Half human,
half chimp? What are the possibilities for it having a chimp body and a
human brain? A chimp brain and a human body? A chimp set of instincts
and a human set of intellectual capacities? Or vice versa? A soul?
Considering the possibility for it having introspective intellectual capacities
is it ethical to use half-humans as slaves? Is it ethical to use half-humans
to be bred to be slaughtered for organs? Is it really worse to be
doing this to half or whole-animals? Is it ethical to consider
half-humans having offspring, say, that may be whole human!

This and the nuclear threat are the definitive statements of science
getting too far for a civilization as it is now, or possibly ever will
be, considering human fallibility and potential for aggression,
violence, being overwhelmed by fear, and accidents.

Who are we?, what gives us these abilities to create lifeforms? What
does this say about God's determination of life on this planet and
elsewhere? What does this say about the existence of God?

What lessons does this teach us? If we are so abhorred by the
thought of half-humans being created and mistreated (slavery and
slaughter) why do we allow animals to be treated the same way? What
percentage must a creature be human for it to be considered unethical
for it to be controlled by humans? 50%? 10%? 1%? .000001%?
Or maybe we're saying that slavery and control are considered as real
alternatives just as long as "it ain't me"? 

What a great opportunity for us to examine ourselves, our motives, our
scientific techniques and purposes. What a time to be human! But I
wouldn't want to be half-human under these circumstances!


carol