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Cloning - A Philosophical Perspective

A very controversial current issue in today's society is the idea of cloning humans, or cloning any type of living creature. Science vs. Government, Science vs. Religion, and Science vs. anything has always turned into controversial issues, but has usually never been resolved due to them being two completely different ideas trying to settle on one idea that satisfies both.

In the philosophical sense of this issue and how Lao Tzu would have responded to this would have leaned more against the scientific idea of the subject. I believe that Lao Tzu would argue that science, while claiming to be out to better human kind, is more about one person, or a small group of people's desires and improper use of their will. Lao Tzu says "Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don\'t resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like" which is a strong tie into how long life really should be and how far we should extend it. Since his ideal society was formed around the idea of not being bothered by desire, ambition or even competitiveness, but more being content with simplicity and being in a harmonious society, and since science is driven around competitiveness and desire, I see Lao Tzu being strongly against something such as cloning.

I think Lao Tzu's idea on how personal desire over rules the bettering of human kind is a very strong idea, because I think in today's society more science is about their own wants and being able to be known for something they accomplished more then bettering human kind. I'm sure scientists want to better human kind with new drugs and medications and to pro-long life, but there is no way that that is all they want, today's society is to much about making a name for yourself.

Lao Tzu also claims that a natural death is to be welcomed, but an early, untimely death is to be prevented, I would see him reacting the same way about pro-longing life longer then it should be, and I think that is strongest when he says "Be Content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you".

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