Ethical Issues in Human Cloning: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives

Ethical Issues in Human Cloning: Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives. Edited by Michael C. Brannigan. New York: Seven Bridges Press, LLC, 2001. xii and 244 pages. Paper. $21.95.

This is a collection of essays from the disciplines of science, religion, philosophy, and policy and law. Each section addresses the delicate issue of and arguments considering human cloning. All authors are respected in their chosen fields.

"Perspectives from Science" (Part I) addresses what cloning means. More important, this section offers divergent opinions within the scientific community. Some of the authors believe that the public has been misled and that, after clarification of terms and ideas, they will eventually support it. Others call for human cloning to proceed with caution and for greater human control of the project.

Part II presents perspectives from various religious backgrounds. Contributors argue for positions based on the ideology behind human origin and freedom. In one essay, Lee Silver states that once the debate is done only religious objections will remain. The section ends with Richard Dawkins's view that the crux of this argument lies mainly in proving what harm would be done.

Part III supplies philosophical arguments on cloning. Most authors in this section agree that cloning will most likely happen in our progress-oriented society, giving rise to issues of identity. Others discuss the issue under John Stuart Mill's harm principle or the overriding issue of couple or individual infertility.

Part IV starts with the National Bioethics Advisory Commission's report written during the Clinton presidency. Authors present arguments addressing the necessity of the procedure, transfer of nuclear material, fertility treatments, and the commercialization of cloning.

This collection of essays gives extensive insight into the debate about human cloning. However, the section on religious perspectives does not give an accurate view of religious opinion on this subject.

Joseph E. Gaston

Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

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