Would it be ethical to clone people like Einstein?

Shawn December 04, 2018 at 15:02 2600 views 6 comments

Let us say for sake of argument, that we face technological challenges that can only be addressed by the brightest of minds. We would have a real need for people like Von Neumann or Einstein or Turing or Goethe or Leonardo da Vinci or Plato to solve these problems.

Would it be ethical to clone such people?

Comments (6)

DingoJones December 04, 2018 at 15:32 #233507 0 likes

Reply to Wallows

If it is ethical to clone people at all, then it would be ethical to clone those people. What is it about these particular people or types of people that would make it unethical?

ssu December 04, 2018 at 15:40 #233509 0 likes

Likely some countries would want to clone their best athletes. If it would be allowed. With intelligence it isn't so straight forward as different people can have different interests. Perhaps physical abilities are more about the genes here.

Above all, let's remember that clones that we can make now aren't so good as identical twins in nature. And identical twins can be different.

BC December 04, 2018 at 15:59 #233513 0 likes

If it is unethical to exploit persons, treat them as a means rather than an end in themselves, define them in advance of their existence as useful for some purpose, then YES: it would be unethical to clone Einstein.

It would be unethical to clone anyone for some particular purpose.

Of the 7.5 billion people on earth, it is likely that at least several, maybe hundreds of people, or thousands are as smart as Einstein. Besides, it isn't just "smarts". It's also creativity, determination, patience, conducive environment, etc. Do we know how to raise several baby Einsteins so that they would perform as ordered? No.

Queen Cleopatra December 06, 2018 at 22:59 #234185 0 likes

We could use a few Jesus's too. A lot less Judas's.

DiegoT December 14, 2018 at 17:16 #237007 0 likes

it does not matter, as you can not possibly do that. You would have to clone their entire life and world of influences, from what they read, to what they ate! A person with same DNA is not the same person. Not even the same body.

DiegoT December 14, 2018 at 17:18 #237008 0 likes

Anyway, I thought you meant Einstein, the grey parrot; but there´s no need, just take another healthy parrot and instruct him from birth to talk and discuss current affairs