Product Description
Today, biological science is rising on a wall of worry. No other science has advanced more dramatically during the past several decades nor yielded so many palpable improvements in human welfare. Yet none, except nuclear physics, have aroused greater apprehensions among the general public and leaders in such diverse fields as religion, the humanities and government than the cloning issue. In this engaging book, Leon R. Kass, the noted teacher, scientist and humanist, and James Q. Wilson, the preeminent political scientist to whom four U.S. presidents have turned for advice, explore the ethics of human cloning, reproductive technology and the teleology of human sexuality. Although the authors share a fundamental distrust of the notion of human cloning, they base their reticence on differing views of the role of sexual reproduction and the role of the family. Professor Kass contends that in vitro fertilization and other assisted reproduction technologies that ! place the origin of human life in human hands have eroded the respect from the mystery of sexuality and human renewal. Professor Wilson, in contrast, asserts that whether a human life is created naturally or artificially is immaterial as long as the child is raised by loving parents in a two-parent family and is not harmed by the means of its conception. This accessible volume promises to inform and expand the public policy debate over the permissible conduct of genetic research and uses of its discoveries.

Amazon.com Review
This slim volume is the best introduction to the ethical debate over human cloning now available, as two of America's most respected public intellectuals tangle over the question of whether it's a good idea to let people make genetic duplicates of themselves. Kass is firmly against human cloning; Wilson, although not exactly an enthusiast, sees no essential problem with it as long as cloned children are raised in loving, two-parent households. The book is divided into two parts, with each writer laying out an initial position followed by mutual critiques. Kass seems to get the better of the exchange, but both writers present their views clearly, with occasional humor. (Wilson at one point shrugs off the concern that cloning will replace sexual reproduction: "Sex is more fun than cloning.... Procreation is a delight.") This outstanding book will shape a debate that's only just gotten underway. --John J. Miller

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 3.5 based on 8 reviews)

The Ethics of Human Cloning by Bryan Klotz

5 Stars
November 03, 2009
Fast delivery, I needed this book for my Bioethics class and got it just in time. Thanks!

A look at two conservative views of cloning by Fatty magee (Houston oh god I hate this place)

3 Stars
March 14, 2007
This book is a collection of four essays written by Kass and Wilson. Both men appear to be conservative by their views stated in each essay. The first two essays are stand alone; each mans' opinions on the issue of cloning and the second two are rebuttals from the two on the previous essays. Each man is a conservative and offers different stances on how cloning should be implemented or if it should altogether be banned. A good look at a side of science that some people may not know or understand. In that since it is a good read but many of the assumptions in the book are very opinionated and not very factual, well at least from Kass.

Good read for all. by C. VanBelle

4 Stars
May 03, 2006
On February 23, 1997, Dr. Ian Wilmut announced that his research team at the Roslin Institute of Edinburgh, Scotland had cloned a 6 year old ewe. This announcement produced hype and hysteria in all directions. Leon R. Kass and James Q. Wilson wrote essays regarding their opinions of the potential consequences, both good and bad.Leon R. Kass' essay "Wisdom and Repugnance"(The Weekly Standard, May 26, 1997) focuses on what lead up to cloning and why it will turn our lives into that of Brave New World. James Q. Wilson's essay "The Paradox of Cloning"(The New Republic, June 2, 1997), attacks the issue from another angle. Wilson acknowledges the philosophical and theological issues, but open-mindedly sees no problem with clones being provided for married 2-parent families. Both essays are very engaging and cover many angles. I believe that Kass' argument is more explicit and practical than Wilson's. Wilson merely states that cloning will happen and it will be abused, so why not establish some good from it. Kass also covers more in-depth the many sides of cloning and even, in a way, deduces what Wilson says. The information in the book is useful and I recommend it to anyone that needs a crash course on the issue of cloning. I also recommend it on the basis that cloning is an issue that affects everyone and it is important to be informed on the hard decisions facing our times.

Theocratic Trash!!!!!!!!!! by Christian Wilski

1 Stars
April 08, 2006
Leon R. Kass, M.D., P.h.D., is chairman of the 'President' George W. Bush's Council on Bioethics. This book was intelligently written without any reference to religion but the whole underlying message was "Do not touch Gods property even if it means healing the sick." These religious fundamentalists will do anything to STUNT us in our pursuits of happiness. This guy is for KEEPING PARALYZED PEOPLE PARALYZED. "Dr." Kass is for KEEPING AMPUTEES AMPUTATED. He's for KEEPING the depressed and suicidal DEPRESSED AND SUICIDAL. Ill spare you the bull and say what Dr. Kass really wants to say - "I want you to follow Jesus with all your heart no matter how much pain and suffering you are in. If God made you depressed than thats how you should be. If God made you paralyzed then thats how you should be. If you are miserable in your existance then thats obviously how God wants you to be and thats how you will be with our new conservative laws that will effectively ban progress to help people". For this is the ONLY real argument you can use to support the banning of progress designed to help humans. - He wants everyone to follow the 'divine' rule of sanctity of life, not quality of life - an ugly ethic for a very stupid man.

The Two Sides of the Clone by Sam Vaknin (Skopje, Macedonia)

5 Stars
November 22, 2003
This slim volume is an excellent introduction to the multifaceted issues involved in cloning.There are two types of cloning. One involves harvesting stem cells from embryos ("therapeutic cloning"). These are the biological equivalent of a template. They can develop into any kind of mature functional cell and thus help cure many degenerative and auto-immune diseases. The other kind of cloning is much decried in popular culture - and elsewhere - as the harbinger of a Brave, New World. A nucleus from any cell of a donor is embedded in an egg whose own nucleus has been removed. The egg is then implanted in a woman's womb and a cloned baby is born nine months later. Biologically, the cloned infant is a replica of the donor. Cloning is often confused with other advances in bio-medicine and bio-engineering - such as genetic selection. It cannot - in itself - be used to produce "perfect humans" or select sex or other traits. Hence, some of the arguments against cloning are either specious or fuelled by ignorance. It is true, though, that cloning, used in conjunction with other bio-technologies, raises serious bio-ethical questions. Scare scenarios of humans cultivated in sinister labs as sources of spare body parts, "designer babies", "master races", or "genetic sex slaves" - formerly the preserve of B sci-fi movies - have invaded mainstream discourse. Still, cloning touches upon Mankind's most basic fears and hopes. It invokes the most intractable ethical and moral dilemmas. As an inevitable result, the debate is often more passionate than informed. Sam Vaknin, author of "Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited"

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