The Metaphysical and Moral Status of Human Embryos

Exploring the metaphysical and moral status of human embryo, one of the most fundamental questions underlying many significant bioethical issues, this essay is divided into four parts. It is firstly to be shown that not only the traditional moral controversy surrounding abortion but also that of the most cutting-edge researches of embryonic stem cell and human cloning can not be properly dealt with without first addressing the question of the metaphysical and moral status of human embryo. Secondly, the meaning of the question will be precisely defined so that the discussion can be rightly focused. The metaphysical part of the question is concerned with the issue whether human embryo is an entity with personhood, i.e. whether it is at the same time a human person. The second part is accordingly the moral question whether a human embryo has the dignity of a person and therefore shall be treated as an end by itself and not as only a means, which again means whether it is morally wrong to kill human embryos for the sake of the welfare of humankind. The main arguments for and contra the personhood of human embryos are presented in the third part after a comprehensive account of personhood is offered as a basis for the discussion. Different arguments such as speciesism, identity, continuity, potentiality and last but not least, benefit of the doubt-argument are evaluated and appealed to. The thesis arrived at is that human embryos are persons or at least shall be treated as persons when the antithesis is not sufficiently and well grounded. The fourth and last part concludes the essay with the claim that in normal situations it is immoral to kill human embryos for the progress of the medicine and the welfare of the mankind.