Argument Worksheet on “Will Cloning Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Harm People?”

By Gregory Pence

(1) What is SCNT? (p. 115)

(2) What are the possible benefits of SCNT?

Below are some arguments against SCNT; additional premises need to be added to make them valid; are these valid arguments sound arguments?

Parallels with In Vitro Fertilization: Repeating History

1. If a method of producing children is morally permissible then it yields only healthy children.

2. ___________________________________________________________________________________________Therefore, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is wrong, i.e., morally impermissible.

3. If a method of producing children is morally permissible then it the children consent to it.

4. ___________________________________________________________________________________________Therefore, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is wrong, i.e., morally impermissible.

5. If a method of producing children is morally permissible then it is risk-free.

6. ___________________________________________________________________________________________Therefore, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is wrong, i.e., morally impermissible.

7. If a method of producing children is morally permissible then it always results in “normal” children.

8. ___________________________________________________________________________________________Therefore, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is wrong, i.e., morally impermissible.

9. If a method of producing children is morally permissible then it results in no harms to children.

10. ___________________________________________________________________________________________Therefore, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is wrong, i.e., morally impermissible.

Psychological Harm to the Child

11. Parents who would use SCNT have bad motives in creating a child.

12. ___________________________________________________________________________________________Therefore, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is wrong, i.e., morally impermissible

13. Being produced by SCNT is harmful for a child produced by SCNT.

14. ___________________________________________________________________________________________Therefore, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is wrong, i.e., morally impermissible.

15. People will be prejudiced against SCNT children.

16. ___________________________________________________________________________________________Therefore, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is wrong, i.e., morally impermissible

17. “People would not want to be produced by SCNT.”

18. ___________________________________________________________________________________________Therefore, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is wrong, i.e., morally impermissible

19. SCNT is “repugnant” and “a horror.”

20. ___________________________________________________________________________________________Therefore, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is wrong, i.e., morally impermissible.

21. Children produced by SCNT will have “troubled psychic identities,” be confused about their lives.

22. ___________________________________________________________________________________________Therefore, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is wrong, i.e., morally impermissible

23. SCNT-produced children are like children produced by incest.

24. ___________________________________________________________________________________________Therefore, Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is wrong, i.e., morally impermissible