Ethics of Human Cloning: Arguments For and Against
This paper examines the ethical dimensions of human cloning technology, tracing the debate from James Watson's 1971 warning through the 1996 birth of Dolly the sheep. It surveys proponents' arguments — including medical breakthroughs, reproductive options for infertile and same-sex couples, and utilitarian benefits — alongside opponents' concerns about physical risks, social harm, and violations of human dignity. The paper then critically evaluates both sides using Ronald Dworkin's concept of the intrinsic sanctity of life and John Rawls' theory of justice. It concludes that, because current cloning technology violates the intrinsic value of human life and its benefits do not outweigh its harms, cloning research should be banned.
- Introduction: Historical context and thesis on cloning ethics
- Background: How Cloning Works: Technical overview of somatic cell nuclear transfer
- Arguments for Human Cloning: Medical, social, and moral cases for cloning
- Arguments Against Human Cloning: Risks, social harms, and ethical objections
- Criticism of Arguments for Human Cloning: Dworkin and Rawls challenge pro-cloning claims
- Criticism of Arguments Against Human Cloning: Proponents rebut fears and dignity arguments
- Conclusion: Harms outweigh benefits; cloning research opposed
✍️ How to write this paper — guide, tools & examples ▾
What makes this paper effective
- It presents a genuinely balanced structure, dedicating separate sections to arguments for and against cloning before offering critical evaluations of each — this prevents the paper from reading as one-sided advocacy.
- It anchors its own normative position in established philosophical frameworks (Dworkin's intrinsic value of life and Rawls' political liberalism), giving the conclusion intellectual grounding beyond mere opinion.
- The use of specific, concrete examples — such as the hypothetical Shapiro family case and the 277-attempt failure rate behind Dolly — effectively illustrates abstract ethical principles.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates the technique of dialectical argumentation: it steelmans opposing positions before systematically critiquing them. Rather than dismissing pro-cloning arguments, the author engages them on their own terms — utilitarian benefit, reproductive liberty, medical necessity — before showing where those arguments fall short according to Dworkin and Rawls. This approach strengthens the conclusion by showing the author has considered the full debate.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with historical context and a clear thesis, then provides technical background on cloning. Two parallel sections lay out the pro- and anti-cloning cases across medical, social, and moral dimensions. Two further sections critically evaluate each side, drawing on philosophical theory. The conclusion synthesizes the analysis into a policy recommendation. This six-part structure mirrors a formal debate format, making the argumentative logic easy to follow.
Introduction
In 1971, Nobel Prize-winning scientist James Watson wrote an article warning about the growing possibility of a "clonal man." Because of both the moral and social dangers cloning posed to humankind, Watson called for a worldwide ban on any research leading to cloning technology (Watson 8).
Until then, cloning had been largely relegated to the realm of science fiction. Scientific research concerning cloning and in vitro fertilization was obscure and technical, and hardly covered in the news. Watson, however, was a highly respected scientist — a Harvard professor famous for his discovery of the double helix structure of DNA. The article he wrote sparked an intense debate over cloning, a debate that was renewed with the 1996 birth of Dolly the lamb, the first cloned mammal.
The argument no longer centers on whether cloning is possible, but on whether cloning is ethical. This paper examines the ethical arguments of those who advocate the use of cloning technology in light of Ronald Dworkin's ethical writings on "the sanctity of life" and John Rawls' theory of justice.
In the conclusion, this paper argues that because the present state of cloning technology violates the intrinsic value of human life, research involving cloning should be banned.
Background: How Cloning Works
The first step in current cloning technology is removing the nucleus of an egg cell. This enucleated egg then receives transplanted chromosomes harvested from a donor cell. With the new nucleus, the egg behaves as if it has been fertilized. If the transplant is successful, the egg cells begin to divide. This "fertilized" egg is then implanted as an embryo into a womb for a normal gestation period (McGee 7–8).
This was the technique that resulted in Dolly, who was cloned from the cell of an adult sheep. Though human DNA is far more complex, the technique could conceivably serve as the basis for cloning humans. Many experts believe that a human could be successfully cloned within the next few decades.
Works Cited
Annas, George. "Scientific Discoveries and Cloning: Challenges for Public Policy." Flesh of My Flesh: The Ethics of Cloning Humans. Gregory E. Pence, ed. Oxford: Rowman and Littlefield, 1998.
Bailey, Ronald. "Cloning is Ethical." Ethics. Brenda Stalcup, ed. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2000.
Garcia, Jorge L.A. "Cloning Humans is Not Ethical." The Ethics of Genetic Engineering. Lisa Yount, ed. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002.
Kass, Leon. "The Wisdom of Repugnance." Flesh of My Flesh: The Ethics of Cloning Humans. Gregory E. Pence, ed. Oxford: Rowman and Littlefield, 1998.
McMahan, Jeff. The Ethics of Killing: Problems at the Margins of Life. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
National Bioethics Advisory Commission. "Cloning Human Beings." Flesh of My Flesh: The Ethics of Cloning Humans. Gregory E. Pence, ed. Oxford: Rowman and Littlefield, 1998.
Pence, Gregory E. "Cloning Humans is Ethical." The Ethics of Genetic Engineering. Lisa Yount, ed. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002.
Robertson, John. "Wrongful Life, Federalism and Procreative Liberty: A Critique of the NBAC Cloning Report." Flesh of My Flesh: The Ethics of Cloning Humans. Gregory E. Pence, ed. Oxford: Rowman and Littlefield, 1998.
Watson, James D. "Moving Toward the Clonal Man: Is this What We Want?" Flesh of My Flesh: The Ethics of Cloning Humans. Gregory E. Pence, ed. Oxford: Rowman and Littlefield, 1998.
Create your account
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.