Kant on Embryo Research

1. Kant on Embryo Research By: Ebun Adewuyi

2. What is Embryo Research? • Embryo Research is the result of doing something useful with spare embryo’s which are fertilised to maximise the chance of pregnancy through IVF

3. How can the Categorical Imperative apply to the Embryo Research? • As Kant was deontological, in general embryo research cannot be justified if it simply concerns itself with hypothetical imperatives e.g. engaging embryo research in order to improve IVF treatment or help to combat genetic diseases. • Kant also believed that all humans are autonomous beings and therefore must “have the courage to use our own reason” however this subordinate to a person’s duty to be rational (An action must be done is it is morally right –objective- and not out of self interest. This means a Kantian must be informed and rational and therefore cannot be ignorant of information or research indicating the individuality and personhood of an embryo or a foetus.

4. How can the Categorical Imperative apply to the Embryo Research? The Universal Law “So act as if the maxim of your will could always hold at the same time a principle establishing universal law. • The maxim “always preserve human life” would make research on embryo’s and foetuses wrong without any exception as it fits the three tests of universalization 1)what if everyone did that 2)Is it logical for everyone to do it 3)Do you want everyone to do it. • However this may be ill-founded because a Kantian may not be able to keep this principle in all cases • The maxim “use spare embryo’s for stem cell research” is universalisable as it does not contradict the law of nature however the maxim “create embryo’s for stem cell research” is not universalisable as there would be no embryo’s left to develop, the human race would be extinct, contradicting the law of nature.

5. How can the Categorical Imperative apply to the Embryo Research? Treat Humans as ends in themselves “act in a way that you always treat humanity, whether in your own person or in the person of another, never simply as means, but always as an end” • This is dependent on a person’s view of personhood and whether or not an embryo is entitled to be treated as an end in itself. • Kant distinguished between three types of beings: • People- Rational Agents • People with partial rights- people who lack rights e.g. Children, mentally disabled • Things- Animals, plants etc (things can be treated as a means to an end) If embryo's are classified as things, it might be justifiable to use them in embryo research.

6. How can the Categorical Imperative apply to the Embryo Research? • Lawmaker in the Kingdom of Ends: “act as if you were through your maxims a law-making member of a kingdom of ends.” • When making a law, everyone in the Kingdom of ends must agree to it due to the fact that each person is equal, this means that embryo research may not pass this formulation as not every one will agree to giving up their embryo’s.