That's an interesting perspective. My discomfort comes from creating life that wouldn't otherwise exist for the sole purpose of serving human needs. Also not being able to predict how it will feel, what it might experience, where it's life will lead if it were to escape and the effects on the rest of the ecosystem. Creating life is not where it ends and certainly the stated goals are not where this technology ends.
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I think your concerns are that of a moral and good person. They bring to mind H.G. Wells who explored some of these issues more than a century ago in The Island of Doctor Moreau. I have to agree there is certainly the chance that something could go wrong...
Thank you transhuman and for the reminder of Dr Moreau.
It is clearly a human trait to always do things that can be done. There is never any restraint. Pandora's box is always opened without a moment's hesitation and the justification is always either, if we don't do it, someone else will or we must do it to help everyone. There is zero wisdom in this approach because very often the potential consequences are irreversible and unknowable and take a subjective view of what is good for people. Has all the advances of the modern world made the people of the US happier, healthier, longer-lived, wealthier? No. The majority of anything learned is hidden and hoarded and used to exploit everyone else and in fact make these questionable paths easier and easier to tread. One day, we'll all wake up and we won't know what we are anymore if we don't destroy ourselves outright. We need to find wisdom and restraint first, then push the dangerous borders of our knowledge.
There is plenty of science that can be done that does not require playing with fire or moral gymnastics. There are perhaps other ways to grow organs.
You make some valid points, but I disagree here:
Improved medicine, public health and sanitation have statistically lengthened human lifespan very significantly in the past 120 years or so. Infant mortality is way down and people live longer in general. Those are facts. Also, the modern American works fewer hours and under safer conditions than his predecessors. As for happier, that may be debateable.
You are quite right to pick me up there ;) There have been many incredible advances from which many people have benefited.