Whose View of Life?: Embryos, Cloning, and Stem Cells

By Jane Maienschein

Book Overview

Saving lives versus taking lives - these are the stark terms in which the public regards human embryo research - a battleground of extremes, a war between science and ethics. Such a simplistic dichotomy, encouraged by vociferous opponents of abortion and proponents of medical research, is precisely what Jane Maienschein seeks to counter in this book. She brings the current debates into sharper focus by examining developments in stem cell research, cloning and embryology in historical and philosophical context and by exploring legal, social and ethical issues at the heart of what has become a political controversy. Jane Maienschein provides historical and contemporary analysis to aid understanding of the scientific and social forces that got us where we are today. For example, she explains the long-established traditions behind conflicting views of how life begins - at conception or gradually, in the course of development. She prepares us to engage a major question of our day: how are we, as a 21st century democratic society, to navigate a course that is at the same time respectful of the range of competing views of life, built on the strongest possible basis of scientific knowledge, and still able to respond to the momentous opportunities and challenges presented to us by modern biology? Maienschein's multidisciplinary perspective aims to provide a starting point for futher attempts to answer this question.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674011708
• ISBN13: 9780674011700
• Release Date: December 2003
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Length: 342 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

"Conflicting views, evolving dogma on embryos and stem cells"

"Whose View of Life?" puts the competing views of life underlying the controversy over embryos and embryonic stem cell research in clear historical context. Dr. Maienschein shows how even strict dogmatic views have evolved under the influence of technology, particularly the ability to visualize the embryo and fetus. In this regard, it seems to me that such seeing does not necessarily bring philosophical enlightenment. This excellent book can help clarify one's own thinking on this crucial controversy, as well as better one's understanding of perspectives other than ones own.

Navigating Cloning and Stem Cell Controversies

These are highly contentious issues where many have long- and emotionally-held views. Maienschien first puts these issues into historical context. The questions, ethical and moral, that they pose are not really all that new. Through history decisions have been made sometimes on science, sometimes in ignorance, and sometimes in the absence of real understanding.What comes through is that the science of human development has been an evolving process and, like all of science, it has had no shortage of breakthroughs, brilliant insights, and egos. The bottom line is that science does not yet have all the answers...and in some cases...the answer may not lie in the realm of science.So what are politicians to do about this. How do they decide? Make law? Balance the competing and strongly-held views on this issue?By the close of the book we know Maienschein's position, but unlike some who have written in this area, she does not then discount those with whom she disagrees. Rather, she seems to suggest that responsible decisions must always remember that there are those who will disagree with any particular stance. The challenge for our leaders, then, is to make decisions that are "right" and not those that are politically expedient.An excellent book. Well worth the read.