TWO Brainstorming Samples for Essay 2: Ethical Argument

1.      Ethical Argument Overview 2.      Narrowing Your Ideas for the Ethical Argument a.        Arguing from the Christian Ethical Standard b.      Arguing from American Ethical Standards c.       Arguing from Medical Ethical Standards 3.      Common Mistakes 4.      BRAINSTORMING 5.      Steps-to-Success

SAMPLE 1:

BRAINSTORMING an ETHICAL ARGUMENT TOPIC 

from a CHRISTAN STANDARD

You may want to see the sample brainstorming—not an outline, but a brainstorming sample—on the topic below.  

It might help to act as a springboard for your own ideas as to ethical objections those who follow Christianity would make if asked, “How far should scientists go with genetic modification and engineering.”

BRAINSTORMING FOCUS WRITING STYLE: Ethical Argument TOPIC: Genetic Engineering ETHICAL STANDARD: Christian Worldview

*NOTE* 

The ideas below are random, spur-of-the-moment brainstormed ideas on the topic.  They are NOT being used as 'the way to write the ethical argument,' nor are they being advocated as correct.  These are just one person's ideas on the topic.

Thesis to generate ideas: Genetic engineering is unethical from a Christian stand-point due to manipulation of God’s image at the cellular level, idolizing superficial and ever-changing beauty standards, as well as death and pain to the embryos, clones, and experimental lives along the way to perfecting this scientific goose-chase.

Areas Brainstormed:

The biblical worldview of sin, illness, and death.

• Christians believe sin entered the world due to man's own fall...removal from Eden and sin entered the world
• With this sin came death, destruction, tumultuary earth, and disease.  
• Having sinfulness, illness, and strife makes people turn to God for guidance, healing, and ultimately, peace if death does come. 

Even if these procedures could eradicate some illnesses from the gene pool, sin will not be eradicated until Jesus returns; therefore, there will always be illness, death, and abnormalities in this world.  

The following passage is a reminder for me, anytime something bad, painful, or heart-breaking happens, of the One Who is Life-giver and Protector in a world ransacked by sin and consequential death.  Many would ask how our Creator could allow such human suffering, malice, and debauchery in this world. The answer is He is never the author of violence and death; in fact, He is always incorruptible, unchangeable, and complete in His mercy, staying His hand for a time against what humanity has wrought on its own.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

Natural Healing (not death for the benefit of others)

• God gave humans items on the Earth for healing and easing of pain.  
• With big pharma entering the picture, use and advocating for these natural remedies has been hidden, pushed aside, laughed at, and often, outlawed.
• Modern scientists state this genetic engineering is for healing.   
• Laboratory manipulation at the microscopic level is not for healing...not really...if the experts in the field say it requires 'death' of embryos, shortened lifespans for cloned and mutated organisms, and future ramifications are unpredictable--and so it is for glory, vanity, and the wealthy...not for health.  
• Manipulation of others, causing pain, discomfort, death, and pushing one's will onto someone else who has no say (embryos or future generations) is not ethical for Christians.

Designing Beauty

• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...what does that old adage really mean?
• What is perceived as beautiful is not really measurable. 
• Beauty is subjective--meaning there is not set 'constant’ for with which to judge. 
• After all, what one person finds beautiful may be objectional to another. 
• What one society or culture sees as desirable may be seen as demonic or—at the least—ugly.
• Idolizing perceived human perfections is not only unbiblical, but it also is not glorifying to God. 
• If it is unbiblical, then it is not ethically sound for Christians.
• Christians believe they are made in God's image. 
• Designing beauty alters that basic image at the cellular level to become the latest trend in beauty in society. 
• 40 years ago, perceived beauty was very different than what is seen as beautiful today. 
• This is transitive, and if the world's view of beauty is ever-changing, then why would parents want to alter someone at the genetic level to have a beauty that might be out of style in 40 years? 
• It's not like a tattoo one can get removed. 
• It is not like dying your hair a new shade. 
• Beauty designed at the cellular level will not end with the ones originally altered. 
• Their kids will now have that altered DNA, and those people will look 'out of style' if given time.

Basic Ethical Foundation for Christianity: Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness

• Diversity makes people appreciate their blessings, help others who struggle in ways they do not, and leads them closer to God.
• As people grow as Christians, they consider..." Hmm, if God loves me this way...with all of my imperfections, sins, and ugliness, then I will need to try to love this other person...warts and all."
• The human manifestation of God on Earth came in the form of Jesus, and He did not seek the beautiful.  He did not seek the healthy.  He did not seek the powerful and strong. 
• He sought the average man.  The common woman. 
• He sought the weak, sick, and possessed.
• He sought the servants and givers.
• Manipulating unwanted diversity traits out of humans go against the belief system and ethical guidance found in the Bible.

© J. Lynn H. Dick, 2019 For Educational Purposes Only JDick13@liberty.edu

SAMPLE 2:

Brainstorming Ideas for an Ethical Argument

There are many ways to organize your points for an ethical argument.  However, the key concept is to create a clear thesis that identifies 1) the issue, 2) the ethical standard, and 3) how the ethics of the issue will be argued.  From that thesis, you would then break down the key points into body paragraph topic sentences—to later be developed.

A student submitted an ethical viewpoint (below).  Please see the organizational features detailed there.  Your points will not be the same; each person will bring his/her own reasons to the ethical argument.  The student was simply gathering information through brainstorming. This is not an outline. 

Ethical Argument Thesis: Scientists must stop all genetic modification because The Bible declares that God specifically designed each human, gives each one a purpose, and that the ‘golden rule’ must be adhered to by all men for unity on Earth. 

Ethical Argument: How far scientists should go with genetic modification

Ethical Standard: The Bible

Body paragraph break-down:

1. God specifically designed each human and therefore, no scientist should take liberties in modifying the genetic make-up of a human on any level.
2. God gave each life a clear purpose, and even with the sin of the world causing less-than-desirable traits at times, God has a plan for that life, faults and all.
3. The ‘golden rule’ (do to others as you would have them do to you) is essential for every scientist to live by since it relates to interpersonal relations with other humans.
4. Opposition: Many scientists, and the governments that sponsor their experiments, feel genetic engineering is ethical, but it is not.

SAMPLE INTRODUCTION: Scientists should not attempt to modify or attempt to change babies in any way.  The fruition of man’s version of a “perfect human” is not worth the risk to human life. There are things on this earth that man should not tamper with, even if society considers it a ‘grey area’ of morality.  God’s views of perfection are above all man-made desires, and since The Bible is the ethical standard for Christians, it is through this book that one can learn what is perfect.  Scientists must stop all genetic modification because The Bible declares that God specifically designed each human, gives each one a purpose, and that the ‘golden rule’ must be adhered to by all men for unity on Earth.

There are 3 parts to an INTRODUCTION:

Hook

Background Development

Thesis

The Break Down of the INTRODUCTION: Scientists should not attempt to modify or attempt to change babies in any way.  The fruition of man’s version of a “perfect human” is not worth the risk to human life. There are things on this earth that man should not tamper with, even if society considers it a ‘grey area’ of morality.  God’s views of perfection are above all man-made desires, and since The Bible is the ethical standard for Christians, it is through this book that one can learn what is perfect.  Scientists must stop all genetic modification because The Bible declares that God specifically designed each human, gives each one a purpose, and that the ‘golden rule’ must be adhered to by all men for unity on Earth.

End of BRAINSTORMING                                                         

• Continue to NARROWING YOUR IDEAS (for the ethical argument)
• Continue to COMMON MISTAKES
• Continue to You've Got a Paper to Write
• Continue to: The Difference Between Morals and Ethics
• Continue to STEPS-TO-SUCCESS

© J. Lynn H. Dick, 2020 For Educational Purposes Only JDick13@liberty.edu