As the birth of cloned humans draws nearer, controversies have arisen around human dignity, ethical issues, and religious objections. Considering the benefits that cloned humans could bring in the context of technological advancement, it’s important to find solutions and prepare for possible problems.
Pinocchio was a wooden puppet created by his grandfather Geppetto who, with the help of a fairy, gained intelligence and the ability to move like a human. He went on many adventures, but his goal was to become a real person. There are many versions of Pinocchio, each with a different ending, but I don’t think there’s a reader (or viewer, or audience member) who hasn’t watched Pinocchio and wished he could become a real person. Yes, that’s right. We’ve secretly felt compassion for these other human beings, these cloned humans, recognizing that they are no different from us. However, now that we’re getting closer to the actual creation of cloned humans through the development of technology, there are many voices of opposition to the idea, claiming that it violates human dignity. What are the reasons for this? In this article, we will not discuss the advantages of cloning humans, but rather rebut the arguments against cloning humans. We will also explain that cloning humans are not just people who are created exactly like the person who came before them, but people who have new genes that are created by selecting the best parts of two or more genes.
Possible conflicts between natural humans and cloned humans
Cloned humans will inevitably differ from natural humans, and those differences will lead to either natural humans oppressing cloned humans or, conversely, cloned humans overpowering natural humans. This is the story of the potential for conflict. The movie Blade Runner is about a replicant plan that fails and the replicants are eliminated. This is the movie that best illustrates the concern about confrontation with replicants. However, this isn’t a conclusion reached after serious consideration of the consequences of replicants; it’s a vague fear of the unknown. Humanity has developed many things that have never existed before, and we take them for granted. But when something revolutionary comes along, there’s also the idea that we shouldn’t develop it. If we develop computers, computers will be smarter than humans and dominate humanity, if we commercialize cars, the streets will be filled with people getting hit by cars, etc. Of course, in extreme cases, these fears may come true, but the history of human progress shows that we’ve managed all of the predicted crises well, and instead of experiencing the expected problems, we’ve enjoyed unexpected benefits. Perhaps the biggest example of this is nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is a weapon of mass destruction when used in bombs, but it’s also a highly efficient and clean source of energy. Of course, the safety of nuclear power plants is an issue, but no one can deny that the benefits of nuclear power far outweigh the problems it causes. The same is likely to be true for cloned humans. While it’s easy to envision a war between humans and clones in the extreme, the chances are much better that we’ll enjoy the many benefits of cloning, such as babies for couples who can’t conceive through IVF, stronger bodies for extreme situations, and access to artificial organs. We can’t stop technology from developing. Rather than blindly opposing it, it would be wiser to prepare to deal with the expected problems and reap the benefits.
Immoral birth
Another reason is that cloned humans do not go through the same process of conception and birth as natural humans. They are born in an artificial incubator, which raises ethical and religious issues. Ethical issues may arise due to the lack of maternal and paternal love, as well as the possibility of producing humans indiscriminately. Also, many religions that emphasize conception and birth may object to artificial birth. However, this is a narrow-minded conclusion that fails to recognize that cloning humans could be one of the ways in which humanity is evolving. In fact, we can find a similar example in animals. It’s ants. Ants live in large colonies, and all of them are born from a single queen. When ants are born, they have different physical characteristics depending on their needs. This streamlining of physical characteristics to social needs has made ants one of the most successful species on the planet. I’ve never heard anyone argue that this evolutionary process is ethically or religiously wrong. The same will be true for cloned humans. While the idea of cloned humans born in an incubator may be repulsive at the moment, this could be another great opportunity for humanity. Just like specialized ants like carpenter ants and worker ants, it’s only natural that society would be more efficient if it could create cloned humans based on its needs.
Nowadays, there are many voices around the world calling for demographic adjustments. Korea is a representative example of the most extreme demographic structure. The “inverted pyramid” demographic structure has led to a shortage of jobs and unemployment, and the small number of people in the economy has led to an unprecedented number of dependents. To solve this problem, we will need to adjust the population and match the specialized abilities of individuals to the right jobs. However, it is currently difficult to recognize an individual’s specialized strengths and even more difficult to find a job that capitalizes on those strengths. These are the unavoidable problems of natural conception, and cloning humans is the most obvious way to fundamentally solve them. Ethical and religious issues can be raised by anyone, of course. However, if we look at them a little differently, they may not be as problematic as we think, and if we consider the benefits, we can’t help but be in favor of them.
Possible deformities due to repeated births of a small number of superior species
Some argue that cloning humans could lead to deformities or genetic problems due to the repeated creation of only the best species. However, this risk can be eliminated with proper management. Even if a natural mate is found and a second generation is created, there is always the possibility that they could be distantly related if you trace their origins. Only one exact clone will ever be created, and when it comes to creating the genes needed for a clone, you only need to use those from someone distant enough. For example, you could consider combining genes from different races to ensure a diverse gene pool. This would also help maintain natural genetic diversity.
Cloning humans may not be a technology we’re going to see anytime soon, but it’s definitely on the horizon. We shouldn’t just say no to cloned humans, but we should work to eliminate the problems they could cause and maximize the benefits they could bring. This preparation is not just about preparing for the arrival of cloned humans, but also about shaping the direction of our society going forward. Advances in technology always bring new challenges and opportunities, and how we capitalize on them will determine the shape of our future society. Cloned humans should be viewed in this context, and it is an important topic with challenges and possibilities that we need to address together.
