Robert Walker
English 102-101
Christine Boese
February 8, 1999
Human or Cyborg?
Director Ridley Scott's Blade Runner is a futuristic, science fiction
film that raises many interesting questions. The setting is Los Angeles
in 2019 where the Tyrell Corporation has genetically engineered a race
of slaves called replicants, who were later banned from earth. The
story centers around a blade runner named Deckerd whose job is to "retire"
several replicants that have illegally come back to earth. The story
raises questions about slavery, religion, and humanity. The biggest
question is where do we draw the line between cyborgs and humans.
In this paper, I will show how the line should be drawn to eliminate cloning
and limit the medical field to minor artificial replacements.
Cyborgs
There is an increasing reliance on artificial materials in the medical
field to replace damaged body parts. Many different body parts can
now be replaced with artificial materials. The list includes hip
joints, knees, heart valves, and limbs. Doctors use pins and plates
to repair broken bones and joints. Cosmetic surgeons use artificial
materials such as breast implants. These examples are relatively
minor and most are used to prolong or increase the quality of life.
Therefore, not many people consider patients who have had these artificial
parts to be cyborgs. However, these artificial materials could be
used in major replacements, and this is where the question arises.
If someone is in a car wreck that leaves him with serious brain damage
and doctors replace his brain with a computer, would he be considered a
human or a “cyborg?" In Blade Runner, Deckard used the presence of
memories to distinguish humans from replicants. A person whose brain
has been replaced by a computer would not be able to remember anything
on his own about his life before the accident. A human programmer could
implant some memories into his new computer. No matter how good the
programmer was, he could not possibly program all of a person's past experiences.
Therefore, he should now be considered a cyborg. {Read more
about Cyborgs.}
Cloning
Another example of a cyborg would be a clone. A clone is a genetically
engineered being that is an exact genetic replica of another living being.
Many people feel that cloning or creating new life in a scientific laboratory
is ethically wrong because only God is meant to create living things.
Not only do many consider cloning wrong, but they also feel that it can
create many unforeseen problems. The cloning of humans is now illegal in
the United States because of the potential technical and social problems.
There are many books and movies depicting what society might be like if
cloning becomes customary. Some examples are the book Brave New World,
films Gattica, Blade Runner, and the article "Dark Side of the Genome".
In Brave New World, the genetically engineered beings felt that they were
far superior to the natural humans. This led to segregation and resentment.
The United States had this problem for many years and fought hard to end
it. There is no need to go through that again. {Read more about
Genetics.}
Genetics
Another example of genetic engineering is altering the genetic code of
an embryo. It will be possible in the future for parents to pick
their baby's sex, eye color, height and other characteristics. It
very likely will be possible to cure birth defects and other diseases in
utero. Parents have never been able to do this before; they have
always taken what they were dealt. If you can control the child's
characteristics, it would not be technically natural so it should not be
considered human.
Some say that the creators of clones or other genetically engineered
beings should have complete control over being's life because the creator
chose to bring it into the world. This control would include deciding
when the clone’s life should end. I strongly disagree with this reasoning.
What would be the difference between this and killing your own dog or child?
People choose to have children just like they would choose to have a clone.
Society has not condoned parents “retiring” children who were not a perfect
physical or mental specimen. This is shown with all the controversy
over abortion. There will be ten times the uproar over a being that
is already born. Therefore, creators should not be allowed to kill
their clones. {Read more about Genetics.}
Slavery
Should we allow people to create clones and force them into slavery?
If we do, the majority of people will disagree with slavery just as they
did before the civil war. A clone should not have fewer rights than
a normal person. There is a great chance that history could repeat
itself and lead to a civil war to free the clones. {Read more about
Slavery.}
Where should the line be drawn between cyborgs and humans? The
medical field should be limited to minor artificial replacements when there
is a medical need. People should not alter themselves for cosmetic
or other purposes. On the cloning side and genetic engineering side,
I feel that it is all wrong and we should let nature and God control life.
I realize that everybody has a different opinion on these issues, but society
is going to have to arrive at some kind of compromise.