A qualified endorsement of embryonic stem cell research, based on two widely shared beliefs about the brain-diseased patients such research might benefit.
Are there persuasive approaches to embryonic stem cell (ESC) research that appeal, not just to those fellow-citizens in one's own ideological camp, nor just to those undecided citizens in the middle, but to those citizens on the other side of the issue? I believe that there are such arguments and in this short paper I try to develop one of them. In particular, I argue that certain beliefs shared by some proponents and some opponents of ESC research--beliefs about the personal identity and moral status of those who are victims of terrible brain diseases--are beliefs that should lead us to adopt a qualified endorsement of ESC research.
Disilvestro
R
R
Department of Philosophy, California State University, Sacramento, Mendocino Hall, Room 3016, 6000 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819-6033, USA. rdisilv@csus.edu
D033421:Beginning of Human Life / Q000941:ethics*; D001927:Brain Diseases; D033041:Embryo Research / Q000941:ethics*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D026689:Ethical Analysis / Q000379:methods; D032984:Ethics, Research; D005197:Famous Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000941:ethics*; D013234:Stem Cells