Complicity and Stem Cell Research: Countering the Utilitarian Argument

Authors

Dennis M. Sullivan, Cedarville UniversityFollow
Aaron Costerisan

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Fall 2008

Journal Title

Ethics & Medicine: An International Journal of Bioethics

Volume

24

Issue

3

First Page

151

Last Page

158

Abstract

The article discusses the moral complicity within stem cell research. It notes that those who advocate the killing of an embryonic human being for such research can be regarded as having complicity with a moral evil, provided that personhood of the embryo is assumed. It adds that pro-life Christians believe that embryos are human persons with rights. It examines a utilitarian argument which calls for the utilization of frozen embryos set to be discarded for research.

Keywords

Embryonic stell cell research, pro-life movement, utilitarianism

Recommended Citation

Sullivan, D. M. & Costerisan, A. (2008). Complicity and Stem Cell Research: Countering the Utilitarian Argument. Ethics and Medicine, 24 (3), 151-158.