Animal Rights in the Light of Animal Cognition

Introduction -

    The issue as to whether animals have rights (or indeed other forms of moral standing) is a complex, divisive issue that is apt to generate much heated argument.  While there are many reasons for this unhappy state of affairs, I believe that in Western cultures at least, a fundamental underlying reason has to do with the fact that the issue of the moral status of nonhuman animals is inextricably intertwined with some issues of long standing concerning the relative positions of humans and nonhuman in nature.  In medieval, these matters were informed by a fundamentally theological perspective; human and nonhuman animals were viewed as having been created by God to occupy different positions in the grand scheme of the universe.  Inspired by Biblical tradition and ancient Greek philosophy, notably that of Aristotle, medieval thinkers saw nonhuman animals as creatures placed here for our use.

Cloning Me, Cloning You: Reflections on the Ethics of Cloning for Individuals, Families and Society

Introduction -

    With the unconfirmed news that at least two human clones have been born, what are the ethical implications of human cloning for individuals, family and society?  How should we begin to decipher pros and cons of this technology?  This paper concentrates on the ethics of cloning a human being for the purposes of producing a child or children in a family.  There is not the scope to deal with the moral issues surrounding the use of embryo stems cells for therapeutic cloning which may result in the growth of specific organs or tissues.  The paper begins with a layperson's understanding of the science of cloning, before addressing a couple of common myths that are associated with this technology.  then there is a brief outline of the major philosophical arguments for and against cloning.  To examine the ethical implication, I use a scenario based upon the reproductive needs and desires of a heterosexual couple and a lesbian couple.  Through an exploration of the issues arising from the scenario, there will be an examination of the relevance of the arguments for and against proceeding with this technology.  As we shall see, not all reasons put forward for and against coloning are ethical reasons.

Stem Cells - A Beginner's Guide

Introduction -

    The promise of the new "stem cell" biology is that it is hoped that one day these cells might be used to replaced parts of human body lost through injury or disease.  It may be possible for humans to grow new parts, just as lizards grow new tails or amphibians, new legs.  Transplanting bone marrow stem cells to replace those lost in cancer therapy is already clinical practise and clinical trials are underway to repair the heart using these cells.  The creations of new pancreatic cells for diabetes is under intensive research in animal studies, and treatments for brain diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease are though possible.  These development in biotechnology promise great advances in human ailments, but at the same time raise challenging ethical dilemmas for society.  In this paper some of the terminology of stem cell is presented and the biology of these cells is introduced.  The focus here is therefore not on the ethical issues explicitly but rather presents the scientific background to a debate on the ethics of this exciting and rapidly advancing science.  In particular this chapter introduces the concepts of "embryonic and adult stem cells" and their therapeutics potential, both dreamed of and currently embodied.

Why it's Wrong to Experiment on Human Embryos

Introduction -

    The Catholic Church teaches that it is wrong to create and/or destroy human embryos for purpose of scientific research (for example, to obtain stem cells).  In this essay I reconstruct a path towards this conclusion by identifying a series of steps, each of which marks a decisive feature of one's approach to ethical decision making.  Those who reach a different conclusion will thereby be able (I hope) to identify the point or points on which our disagreement is based.  In addition, the fundamentals that needs to be addressed before an ethical consensus can be reached should have become clear by way of this approach.

The Moral Status of the (Spare) Embryos

Introduction -

    On 30 May 2002 the Prime Minister of Australia announced that over forty millions dollars would be devoted to stem cell research.  on 31 May representatives of the Catholic Church protested that there are still unresolved moral issues, especially as regards embryonic stem cell research, and that the allocation of funds was therefore premature.  I agree.  I think that all forms of stem cell research should proceed, but not before the community has had more time to discuss the moral issues involved. It has been said that developments in biotechnology and research in the life science in general are moving ahead too quickly, leaving moral and ethical questions in their wake; stem cells research seems a case in point But that is not so much because philosophers and other specialists have not thought about these questions or have nothing to say about them. it is rather that public understanding of what is at stake will (almost inevitably) take longer to evolve and change than does scientific research - that has been true since the time of Copernicus.  My intention here is therefore to try to clear the way a little by examining the main objection to embryonic stem cell research.  While some (in fact, increasing numbers) believe that adult stem cell may be as effective as embryonic stem cells in treating cellular diseases, it is generally accepted that opportunities for therapy will be maximised if research into both types of stem cell is conducted (see Mackay-Sim's paper in this journal for all the details).  In what follows I will only be concerned with embryonic stem cells.

Indigenous Epistemology and Indigenous Standpoint Theory

Introduction -

    Indigenous postgraduate students can become frustrated by being forced to accept western, ethnocentric research methodology that is culturally remote and often unacceptable to the Indigenous epistemological approach to knowledge.  the forceful application of western approaches to postgraduate study has resulted in numerous Indigenous Australian students abandoning their dreams of a higher degree (Budby 2001a).  The racial oppression of Indigenous Australian predagogy and research methodologies within higher Education institutions needs to be acknowledged (Budby 2001b), then and only then can Indigenous students can be given alternatives.  The purpose of this paper therefore is to provide an alternative to what is currently available.

"What is Man?" The Politics of Representing Genetics

Introduction -

    In Kant's logic lectures at the University of Konigsberg (Kant, 1992, p.538), he summed up the meaning of philosophy for citizens as an attempt to produce a systematic and unified response to the following questions:

    1. What can I know?

    2. What ought I to do ?

    3. What may I hope?

    4. What is Man?