The Moral Status of The Moral Status of EmbryoEmbryo

Hannah ChenHannah Chen

Arguments In Support of Arguments In Support of Fertilization as The Marker EventFertilization as The Marker Event

The Feature of Fertilization ProcessThe Feature of Fertilization Process 1.the genetic argument 1.the genetic argument 2.the discontinuity/continuity argument2.the discontinuity/continuity argument 3. and the individuality argument 3. and the individuality argument

The Potentiality of Newly Formed BeingsThe Potentiality of Newly Formed Beings 1.respect for capacities of individuals argument1.respect for capacities of individuals argument 2.and consequentialist argument2.and consequentialist argument

The Feature of Fertilization Process The Feature of Fertilization Process Genetic ArgumentⅠ Genetic ArgumentⅠ

The only morally significant marker event is The only morally significant marker event is the formation of a human genotype. the formation of a human genotype.

Since it is only at fertilization, not after or Since it is only at fertilization, not after or before, does a new genetic member of the before, does a new genetic member of the Homo sapiens come into being, it is wrong to Homo sapiens come into being, it is wrong to destroy early human life ever since that destroy early human life ever since that moment. moment.

The Feature of Fertilization Process The Feature of Fertilization Process Discontinuity/Continuity Ⅱ Discontinuity/Continuity Ⅱ

Argument Argument

In contrast to fertilization event, post-In contrast to fertilization event, post-fertilization development is constructed as a fertilization development is constructed as a continuing process that is no way to isolate continuing process that is no way to isolate any one stage to attribute the attainment of any one stage to attribute the attainment of moral status arbitrarily. moral status arbitrarily.

The Feature of Fertilization Process The Feature of Fertilization Process Individuality Argument Ⅲ Individuality Argument Ⅲ

It is because an individual human being with It is because an individual human being with the unique genotype begins to exist after that, the unique genotype begins to exist after that, “it is the same individual right to life through “it is the same individual right to life through from that moment onto the end.” from that moment onto the end.”

The Potentiality of EmbryosThe Potentiality of EmbryosArgument of “respect for capacities ⅠArgument of “respect for capacities Ⅰ

of individuals” of individuals”

potential to becomepotential to become

Since embryo is a potential human being, a Since embryo is a potential human being, a being with potential to become an adult like being with potential to become an adult like us, it is worthy of respect at the very us, it is worthy of respect at the very beginning. beginning.

The Potentiality of EmbryosThe Potentiality of Embryos Consequentialist ArgumentⅡ Consequentialist ArgumentⅡ

potential to producepotential to produce

Due to the potential of embryo to produce a Due to the potential of embryo to produce a future human subject as its consequence, the future human subject as its consequence, the present embryo bears moral weight not to present embryo bears moral weight not to interfere with. interfere with.

A Substance-oriented View of A Substance-oriented View of Embryo Embryo

the Declaration on Procured Abortionthe Declaration on Procured Abortion: :

“ “ From the time that the ovum is fertilized, a nFrom the time that the ovum is fertilized, a new life is begun which is neither that of the fatew life is begun which is neither that of the father nor of the mother; it is rather the life of a nher nor of the mother; it is rather the life of a new human being with his own growth. It woulew human being with his own growth. It would never be made human if it were not human ald never be made human if it were not human already.” ready.”

Person as SubstancePerson as Substance

“ “a ‘person’ as subject is the ‘substance’, which servea ‘person’ as subject is the ‘substance’, which serves as the transcendental foundation of any further deves as the transcendental foundation of any further development. If there were no unchanged substance behinlopment. If there were no unchanged substance behind the flux of permanent changes, the development of d the flux of permanent changes, the development of any ‘personal’ characteristics would be impossible.”any ‘personal’ characteristics would be impossible.”

““The moral notion of a person and the metaphysical nThe moral notion of a person and the metaphysical notion of a person are not separate and distinct conceptotion of a person are not separate and distinct concepts but just two different and unstable resting points on s but just two different and unstable resting points on the same continuum.” the same continuum.”

Epistemological Paradigm Shift Epistemological Paradigm Shift

From Substance-oriented View to Function-From Substance-oriented View to Function-oriented Vieworiented View

From View of Potential Individual Human From View of Potential Individual Human

Being to View of Material of LifeBeing to View of Material of Life

Some Reasons for the ShiftSome Reasons for the Shift

Triploid zygotesTriploid zygotes viable individuals with 47 chromosomesviable individuals with 47 chromosomes mutation, mosaic organism resulting from chromosomutation, mosaic organism resulting from chromoso

mal non-disjunction mal non-disjunction identical twin, conjoined twin, fetus in fetu, and chimidentical twin, conjoined twin, fetus in fetu, and chim

era era embryo vs. embryo properembryo vs. embryo proper the suspected dichotomy of somatic cell and fertilized the suspected dichotomy of somatic cell and fertilized

egg egg individual identity problem individual identity problem

Metaphorical ThinkingMetaphorical Thinking in ES Cells Research: An Example in ES Cells Research: An Example

In “Alternative Sources of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells”, four In “Alternative Sources of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells”, four different approaches are proposed by scientists to take place of tdifferent approaches are proposed by scientists to take place of traditional resources of human embryonic stem cells. It has been raditional resources of human embryonic stem cells. It has been suggested to derive stem cells:suggested to derive stem cells:

1) by extracting cells form embryos already dead; 1) by extracting cells form embryos already dead; or 2) by non-harmful biopsy of living embryos; or 2) by non-harmful biopsy of living embryos; or 3) by extracting cells from artificially created non-embryonic or 3) by extracting cells from artificially created non-embryonic

but embryo-like cellular systems (engineered to lack the essentibut embryo-like cellular systems (engineered to lack the essential elements of embryo-genesis but still capable of some cell divial elements of embryo-genesis but still capable of some cell division and growth); sion and growth);

or 4) by dedifferentiation of somatic cells back to pluripotency. or 4) by dedifferentiation of somatic cells back to pluripotency.

Approach IApproach I

how can we identify the “organismic death” and justifhow can we identify the “organismic death” and justify the reasonable criteria? y the reasonable criteria?

Even if arrested embryo is considered as death, since Even if arrested embryo is considered as death, since the vital cells abstracted from it, might resume dividithe vital cells abstracted from it, might resume dividing if extracted and placed in the proper milieu, since tng if extracted and placed in the proper milieu, since these cells can still be identify as the continuum of the hese cells can still be identify as the continuum of the original one according to the same genotype, can we original one according to the same genotype, can we be so sure that such an embryo is really dead?be so sure that such an embryo is really dead?

Approach ⅡApproach Ⅱ

It is not clear when in embryonic development It is not clear when in embryonic development such totipotency of the blastomere disappears. such totipotency of the blastomere disappears.

In terms of the potency, the very same blastomIn terms of the potency, the very same blastomere might be viewed as only one cell of the emere might be viewed as only one cell of the embryo under one condition, or as another embrybryo under one condition, or as another embryo under the other condition. o under the other condition.

Approach ⅢApproach Ⅲ

Even though the biological artifact is not an Even though the biological artifact is not an organism, lack of organized development form organism, lack of organized development form the earliest stages of cell differentiation, the earliest stages of cell differentiation, doubts still exist. doubts still exist.

People are concerned whether the artifact is People are concerned whether the artifact is “defective embryo” rather than “non-“defective embryo” rather than “non-embryonic entities”. embryonic entities”.

Approach ⅣApproach Ⅳ

It might lead to the converse argument of It might lead to the converse argument of individual identity in embryo debate.individual identity in embryo debate.

In theory, within the round serial of both In theory, within the round serial of both backward and forward developments, a backward and forward developments, a somatic cell would be eventually established somatic cell would be eventually established as a grown-up with the help of advanced bio-as a grown-up with the help of advanced bio-tech.tech.

Seven Conceptions of PersonhoodSeven Conceptions of Personhood

Appeal to Creation ConceptionAppeal to Creation Conception

Appeal to Rites ConceptionAppeal to Rites Conception

Appeal to Rights ConceptionAppeal to Rights Conception 1 standard of species1 standard of species 2 potentiality2 potentiality 3 sentience3 sentience 4 brain function4 brain function 5 awareness of self as a continuing entity5 awareness of self as a continuing entity

New Metaphorical Thinking New Metaphorical Thinking on the Way on the Way

We need to really think through and through We need to really think through and through what kind of respect is due for embryo. And what kind of respect is due for embryo. And this task could not be done without using this task could not be done without using moral imagination.moral imagination.

Moral imagination needs to be metaphorical in Moral imagination needs to be metaphorical in the sense of being alerted to the constant the sense of being alerted to the constant necessity of stretching ourselves beyond the necessity of stretching ourselves beyond the present identity and context that we have.present identity and context that we have.

Metaphor, “the locus of our imaginative exploration Metaphor, “the locus of our imaginative exploration of possibilities for action,” enters into our moral of possibilities for action,” enters into our moral deliberations in three ways,deliberations in three ways,

““1) It gives rise to different ways of conceptualizing 1) It gives rise to different ways of conceptualizing

situations. 2) It provides different ways of situations. 2) It provides different ways of understanding the nature of morality as such. 3) understanding the nature of morality as such. 3) Metaphors also constitutes a basis for analogizing and Metaphors also constitutes a basis for analogizing and moving beyond the clear or prototype cases to new moving beyond the clear or prototype cases to new cases.” cases.”

What kind of implications might be induced What kind of implications might be induced from the “function-oriented” “material of life” from the “function-oriented” “material of life” view?view?

event vs. substanceevent vs. substance limited status vs. full statuslimited status vs. full status beyond 14 days vs. before 14 daysbeyond 14 days vs. before 14 days

The EndThe End

Thank you for your attention.Thank you for your attention.