2007 Predictions

by Wesley J. Smith

The CBC asked me make some predictions for 2007 in the fields of bioethics and biotechnology. Here it is for those who may be . . . . Continue Reading »

3 Jan 2007 0

Dolly’s Tenth Birthday

by Wesley J. Smith

Dolly was born ten years ago (last July). Many think she was the first cloned mammal. Not true. She was the first mammal cloned with an adult cell. But that is neither here nor there. The point is that Dolly’s birth changed everything.The Scotsman reports about how a party is planned to . . . . Continue Reading »

3 Jan 2007 0

Derbyshire Refuses to Grapple With the Actual Issues About Eugenics

by Wesley J. Smith

John Derbyshire’s style of arguing is often to breezily skip past concrete issues rather than actually grappling with them intellectually. He does it again in the ongoing discussion at The Corner over eugenics, where he dismisses worries that eugenics thinking could result in the eradication . . . . Continue Reading »

2 Jan 2007 0

Rationalizing Eugenics

by Wesley J. Smith

Over at The Corner, there is some back and forth going on about the James Watson Esquire interview that I posted earlier today. John Derbyshire sniffs that the worry about eugenics is overblown, so long as it isn’t state imposed: “If you don’t like eugenics, you are not going to . . . . Continue Reading »

2 Jan 2007 0

James Watson: Eugenicist and Potential Anti-Semite

by Wesley J. Smith

I have noticed a weird trend: When somebody has been a great scientist, for some reason we assume their ideas on morality should be given as much respect as their scientific acumen. But science and morality lie in two different human spheres. Indeed, science can’t tell us right from wrong, . . . . Continue Reading »

2 Jan 2007 0

Give Me That New Transhumanist Religion

by Wesley J. Smith

Transhumanism is, in my view, a branch of scientism, that is, a quasi religion that seeks to use science in ways for which the great method is not meant. Here’s a little proof. A transhumanist named Giulio Prisco is optimistic about the future of the great post human movement. And he describes . . . . Continue Reading »

2 Jan 2007 0

"The Most Interesting Minds in the World" are Optimistic

by Wesley J. Smith

In writing the last post, I discovered Edge, an online community for “the third culture” that claims modestly, “Its informal membership includes of some of the most interesting minds in the world.” Edge asserts that “third culture” intellectuals “are taking . . . . Continue Reading »

1 Jan 2007 0

Science Can End Racism. Really?

by Wesley J. Smith

Some scientists and adherents of scientism keep trying to put more on the shoulders of science than the discipline is capable managing. Now, apparently, some among the elites of science predict that it will somehow do away with racism and sexism by eradicating the emotion of disgust.Good luck with . . . . Continue Reading »

1 Jan 2007 0

Human Trials Announced for Adult Stem Cell Spinal Fusion

by Wesley J. Smith

Keep in mind that this is a company press release, but I think it is worth noting just the same:Mesoblast, an Australian adult stem cell company, has received FDA approval for conducting a “Phase 2” trial using adult stem cells to treat spinal disk disease. If it works, it would . . . . Continue Reading »

1 Jan 2007 0

Making "Gay" Sheep "Straight:" The Coming Political Wars Over Genetic Engineering

by Wesley J. Smith

This story about the fuss being raised over experiments to turn “gay” sheep “straight” is a preview of coming attractions of the bitter arguments that will be unleashed if parents gain the power to biotechnologically mold their progeny to suit their own desires or values. . . . . Continue Reading »

31 Dec 2006 0