Letters published in Le Monde on November 3, 2012
Science without conscience
I am flabbergasted by the scientistic and positivist is clear that the editorial ” White Card” Lawrence Alexander [ urological surgeon , president of DNAVision ] in the supplement “Science and Techno » World October 27.
Ethical reflection is completely removed in the name of inevitable technological progress. Ethical issues are there through a psychological transition whose only real issue is the speed of expiration . That science and technology can only be realized and become standard, good, fair and lawful only have to adapt to this new order compelling , even mandatory .
The amazing thing is that the ethical issues are discussed in this editorial with great clarity … and a huge blindness. It is stated that a child today can make and buy (albeit through “some paperwork “) and that technical progress will make this even easier manufacturing tomorrow. A person capable of producing sperm and eggs (thanks to IPS cells , it is clear it carefully ) , and can give birth at leisure through an artificial womb .
This is where the ethical question arises. A child be a craftable artifact leisure according to the tastes and desires of expressing interest groups ? We can already imagine the general satisfaction of tomorrow may bring squads of children troop genetic vitamin carefully for combat without having to deal with grieving parents in the event of premature termination …
Ethics is necessary and is in no way abolished by technical progress . Buy a man, let alone make it, a name . Slavery . That slavery did not need to exist and technical progress be banned. These technical advances have now multiply the capabilities of this barbarism and require an even firmer prohibited .
Mr. Alexander, we do not make and you do not buy a man , regardless of the nature of technical developments, regardless of the desires of various whatever ” regulations” interest groups that could be considered for this lucrative market of the child and whatever growth reservoirs that could contain !
Mr. Alexander, you assert wrongly that ” experience shows that the sliding speed of the ” forbidden ” to ” tolerated “and to ” permit ” or even ” compulsory ” , essentially depends on the pace of scientific discovery , regardless are the ethical issues raised . ”
Greatest scientific discoveries need ethics. At the risk otherwise of barbarism. “Science without conscience is but the ruin of the soul” , was Rabelais Gargantua say … it must be remembered so obvious is deeply worrying.
Harold Hurel, Paris
Why erase the difference?
As more and more heterosexual couples exist without being passed to the mayor , it seems somewhat paradoxical to make gay marriage a cardinal claim in favor of the community.
I know, Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent were a recognized without being been there couple. And many others before and after them. Why do you want to erase any price difference ?
There remains the question of filiation. Jean Marais was a good son , but only so much Jean Cocteau had thought of a co-authorship claim that he would not know what to do …
Claude Gintz , Ivry -sur- Seine
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