NON-LOGIC :

Holding Cell : WHY THE CLONING DECISION WAS WRONG. (Jerome Groopman, 07.25.02, New Republic)

An early-stage zygote is crucially different from the disabled, the deformed, the fragile young, or the fragile old. Before 14 days--the legal cutoff Britain has established for scientific research--the zygote has developed no organs, no nervous system, nor even the precursor to a nervous system. This absence of the most primitive neural anatomy means that biologically the zygote cannot receive any form of stimulation related to the senses, cannot perceive or cogitate, and thus cannot be hurt or suffer.

But, for the council's majority, this biological fact is irrelevant "[b]ecause the embryo's human and individual genetic identity is present from the start." But if potentiality alone conferred sanctity, then the single adult nucleus, which holds the genetic program of the later zygote, would also be worthy of protection. No human cell could be discarded--ever. No biopsy. No tube of blood. No vial of frozen sperm or egg. Absurd? Of course. But this is where the majority's logic leads.

One of the things you learn in Law School is that half the battle in winning an argument is framing your example or hypothetical in a way that makes it necessary to agree with you. That's what Mr. Groopman has tried here, but his example is too dishonest to serve the intended purpose. What he's doing is comparing a seed to a sprout. A bean seed contains all that will evenbtually be a bean within it. But as a seed it is mere potential. But now add water and sunlight and you get a sprout. You've initiated the process of creating a bean plant No one would argue that to leave the seed in a desk drawer is to kill it. But who would argue that to take the sprout and puree it in a blender does not kill it?
Posted by Orrin Judd at July 27, 2002 11:07 AM