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Human / Non-Human Chimera: The Moral Confusion Argument

The document discusses the concept of chimeras, defined as organisms composed of cells with different embryonic origins, and their potential use in organ transplantation. It presents the 'Moral Confusion Argument,' which raises ethical concerns about the moral status of chimeras that blur the line between human and non-human entities. The authors argue for the necessity of balancing scientific progress with moral considerations, suggesting that regulatory frameworks could help navigate these ethical dilemmas.

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17 views8 pages

Human / Non-Human Chimera: The Moral Confusion Argument

The document discusses the concept of chimeras, defined as organisms composed of cells with different embryonic origins, and their potential use in organ transplantation. It presents the 'Moral Confusion Argument,' which raises ethical concerns about the moral status of chimeras that blur the line between human and non-human entities. The authors argue for the necessity of balancing scientific progress with moral considerations, suggesting that regulatory frameworks could help navigate these ethical dilemmas.

Uploaded by

sanmitra10
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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HUMAN / NON-HUMAN

CHIMERA

The Moral Confusion Argument

Akshaya Pandey, Arpan Banerjee, Bikram Poddar, Priyanka Samanta, Rahul Dutta,
Riddhimann Mukherjee, Rupsha Dasgupta, Sanmitra Mandal, Sebanti Tewary, Tripti
Prasad
M.Tech Biotechnology 1st Semester
Introduction

 In classical Greek and Egyptian


mythology, chimeras are depicted as
having parts with the morphological
characteristics typical of different
species.

 Modern Science defines chimera as a


single organism composed of cells
with different embryonic origins. https://genetics.thetech.org/ask-
a-geneticist/blood-chimera
Scientific Wonders of Creating a
Chimera

 Today, Recombinant DNA Technology can help create an artificial


Chimera with desired traits.

 Researchers are looking at the incorporation of Human Pleuripotent


stem cells into animal body for creating the resultant Chimera.

 If non-human animals could serve as a source of organs, hundreds of


thousands of human lives could be saved or improved each year.
The ethical disagreements in terms of
Moral Status

 The use of non-human animals as a source of tissues or organs for


transplantation into humans has caused some serious ethical
questions in terms of morality.

 If an individual is a human, then they have a definite moral status


over the others.

 But if the individual is a non-human animal, it does not have a


The Moral Confusion Argument
against Chimeras

 The “Moral Confusion Argument” states that it is wrong to create


chimeras since the existence of an entity who cannot be defined as
humans would create moral confusion as inhuman, and vice versa.

 For a borderline chimera between humans and nonhumans, it would


not be clear which moral status to use, and consequently it would not
be clear what our moral obligations to that entity would be.
In The End

 The Moral Confusion Argument opens a new horizon of reviewing our


fundamental Moral frameworks.

 While the objections raised are not necessarily wrong, limiting scientific research
on the basis that it would cause individuals to reconsider their moral beliefs
would restrain not only scientific development but also critical moral growth.

 Since restrain in terms of Scientific Progress is not good at all, we have to


support the greater good sometimes. Processing some governing laws and
judicial systems can be an option, so that the technology is not stopped.
References

 Streiffer, Robert (2019), ‘Human/Non-Human Chimeras’, Stanford


Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Summer 2019.

 The cover page image has been taken from


https://bioethics.hms.harvard.edu/journal/chimera-transplantation.
THANK
YOU

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