http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/1451 A Rare Bird, A Strange Duck, One Funky Blog Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:21:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/1451#comment-803 Fred K Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/wordpress/archives/1455#comment-803 I wonder *why* Christopher Reeve and John Kerry both criticize GW Bush on stem cells without making the distinction between embryonic and adult stem cells. In the simplistic language of both, the term "stem cell" is used as shorthand for embryonic stem cells. Imagine discussing nuclear weaponry without saying the word, "nuclear," and instead using the word, "bomb," in a deliberately ambiguous way! One doesn't need to be religious to understand the semantic and ethical gulf between "embryonic stem cells" and "adult stem cells." <br /><br />Along with creationism we should also be careful of scientism*. In particular, we should be wary of two scientistic tendencies:<br /><br />1. An "ethics" that presumes that if we can do something, then we should. <br /><br />2. The desire for a panacea, especially an unproven one, can be very tempting. X-Rays, Asprin, Pennecillin, and antibiotics in general were all widely embraced by Western society without many questions, sometimes with disastrous results. Religious or not, individuals can ill afford to accept supposed cure-alls unquestioned.<br /><br />*"Scientism"<br />href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientism
Along with creationism we should also be careful of scientism*. In particular, we should be wary of two scientistic tendencies:

1. An "ethics" that presumes that if we can do something, then we should.

2. The desire for a panacea, especially an unproven one, can be very tempting. X-Rays, Asprin, Pennecillin, and antibiotics in general were all widely embraced by Western society without many questions, sometimes with disastrous results. Religious or not, individuals can ill afford to accept supposed cure-alls unquestioned.

*"Scientism"
href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientism]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/1451#comment-804 John Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/wordpress/archives/1455#comment-804 This is a place where I feel you are wandering into dangerous ground. Pointing out that there have been successes with adult stem cells and not with embryonic ones is valid, but you have to be very careful that you're not letting your religious beliefs color your scientific conclusions. My understanding is that you really don't care whether or not embryonic stem cells can be used to treat illness (my phrasing makes that sound like a bad thing, but I certainly think that it's a perfectly legit belief). <br /><br />I'm not saying that you are botching your science, but be careful, because you are in a potentially dangerous area. I don't want to see you go the way of the creationists.
I'm not saying that you are botching your science, but be careful, because you are in a potentially dangerous area. I don't want to see you go the way of the creationists.]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/1451#comment-805 Funky Dung Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/wordpress/archives/1455#comment-805 You're right, I don't think the ends of ESCR justify the means. However, I'm also trying to point out that Kerry and others are snake oil salesmen who want people to blindly accept ESCR even though it hasn't shown any real promise yet. It's not like there's been no research. Plenty is happening in the private sector. Meanwhile, adult and umbilical stem cells have already shown great promise. So I'm left wondering - why do some people want Americans, and the world for that matter, to embrace morally dubious research when ethical research is already being conducted to find the same cures and has met with some success?