In this blog post, we will consider the direction of future society, focusing on the bioethical dilemma that cloning technology will bring and the issue of protecting human dignity.
The future of cloned animals and cloned humans
The nucleus, including the genes, is removed from the somatic cells of an animal. After reprogramming the nucleus by replacing it with an egg of the same species and implanting it into the uterus, an animal with the same genes as the animal that provided the somatic cells is born after going through the incubation process. This process is called “cloning,” and the animal born through this process is called a “cloned animal.” If this technology is applied to humans, ‘cloned humans’ will be born. The concept of cloned humans has only existed in the imagination for a long time, but there are also talks that the realization of cloned humans will be possible in the near future due to the development of modern science and technology.
The emergence of cloned humans will inevitably raise ethical controversies. If cloned humans become a reality, they will have the same genes as the original human, but their psychological and emotional experiences may be different. What will this cloned “me” mean to the original “me”? And how will this change society? This is a philosophical and social issue that requires more than just a scientific discussion.
A new ethical dilemma created by cloned humans
The movie “The Island” focuses on what life would be like for cloned humans in the future and presents two major social problems that could arise from the emergence of cloned humans. The first problem is that cloned humans are forced to live in a confined space under strict control. The second problem is that they are used while being brutally killed.
The film begins with a scene showing the daily life of the main character, the cloned human “Lincoln Six-Echo.” He wakes up from a recurring nightmare, and the screen shows that the program built into his bed detects his brain waves. Then, the program in the bathroom analyzes the composition of his urine to identify the nutrients he is lacking, and provides a breakfast menu based on that information. This scene seems to symbolize the hope that future science and technology will provide humans with a better life. However, as you continue watching the movie, you realize that this “convenient” life can actually be a means of suppressing human freedom.
The reason why cloned humans are strictly controlled is because they are treated as tools for simply extending human life. The purpose of the existence of the cloned human is to provide organs for their original human, the client, when needed. The cloned humans are subjected to strict health management to ensure the provision of healthy organs, and their freedom is restricted. This setting emphasizes the fact that the cloned humans function as “insurance” for life extension, and explains why they are strictly monitored.
The ethical issues caused by the existence of cloned humans do not end with their oppressed lives. In the movie, the cloned humans live in a strictly controlled environment without knowing their true purpose. They have only one goal, which is to go to a fictional place called “The Island,” and believe that this is their only hope. However, in reality, this place does not exist, and the “winning” cloned humans are brutally murdered to provide their organs. This cruel reality depicts how cloned humans are reduced to tools in the name of “life extension,” and asks what price human life extension will cost.
Ethical and social implications of cloned human technology
The birth of cloned humans will not only raise ethical issues but also bring about serious changes throughout society. If cloned humans do exist, will they exist only as tools of humans or will they be recognized as individuals with dignity? This raises the issue of the conflict between the rights of cloned humans and the rights of humans.
If cloned humans exist, how should their humanity and rights be protected? Can a society come into being in which cloned humans are not simply used as tools to extend the life of the original human, but can assert their rights as independent beings? These questions make us imagine the future that will be brought about by the development of science and technology, and they provoke discussion about whether cloned humans can establish themselves as a new social entity beyond being used as a mere tool for extending life.
Another problem that could arise if the technology for creating cloned humans is commercialized is social change due to the extension of human life. If the average life expectancy increases through organ transplants, the aging society will accelerate and the problem of resource scarcity will become more serious. These problems could exacerbate the current problem of resource distribution, and the social changes brought about by the technology for creating cloned humans will face new challenges that science cannot solve.
The emergence of a cloned human being will raise questions for our society that go beyond simply extending life or advancing technology. The existence of a cloned human being will require a new paradigm for human dignity, bioethics, and social responsibility. The future in which cloned humans will emerge will be a time when in-depth discussions on humanity, ethics, and social responsibility are needed, not just a matter of technology.
