The Dignity Behind Human Cloning - 1668 Words

Raj Patel Professor James Gorham English Composition 101S 15 October 2014 The Dignity Behind Human Cloning Angela Merkel once said, â€Å"When it comes to human dignity, we cannot make compromises. † Human dignity, is a controversial topic that is examined in both the Dalai Lamas excerpt â€Å"Ethics and the New Genetics,† a chapter from The Universe in a Single Atom, as well as Francis Fukuyama’s piece, â€Å"Human Dignity,† a chapter from Our PostHuman Future. Both the Dalai Lama and Fukuyama have similar beliefs on the idea of human dignity. For instance, both authors perceive human beings as a whole, thus, creating some moral ground for human dignity. The two authors also express how our ability to make moral choices ultimately supplements the†¦show more content†¦The Dalai Lama, as a Buddhist, views human beings not based on their physical attributes or beliefs such as skin color, race, religion, and the like. But rather based on the entirety of humans living under one planet. For example, â€Å"Th e earth is our only home. As far as current scientific knowledge is concerned, this may be the only planet that can support life†¦ brought home powerfully to me that recognition that we are indeed all member of a single family sharing one little house† (140). He finds a connection of how human beings living on planet earth have that basic similarity and thus, making us one big family. Likewise, Fukuyama also views human beings in a similar manner. He repeatedly uses the term Factor X in his essay. According to Fukuyama, â€Å"Factor X cannot be reduced to the possession of moral choice, reason, or language, or sociability, or sentience, or emotions, or consciousness, or any other quality†¦It is all of these qualities coming together in a human whole that make up Factor X† (201). In this case, Fukuyama is stating how all human beings posses Factor X. Thus, it is Factor X which unites every human as an equal, separating us from other organisms. By viewing human beings as a whole, we gain essence and learn to value each other because it is as if we feel we are a equivalent. Thus, creating a basis for human dignity. Doerflinger’s statement supports the Dalai Lama and Fukuyama’s beliefs as well. For