Word: moralisms
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People who object on moral grounds to research using human embryonic stem cells might be surprised to learn that scientists too are struggling with ethical dilemmas. In the past when a controversial new technology came along--recombinant DNA, for example--the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would set the scientific and ethical standards for research. But with embryonic stem cells (ESCs), the NIH has been hamstrung by President Bush's 2001 order allowing it to fund only research using the limited and imperfect cell lines already in existence--not exactly cutting-edge science. Relegated to a minor role...
First, we should clarify what Johnson means by "good." Unlike many critics of media--especially media aimed at kids--Johnson is not using the term in its moral or social sense. He's not arguing whether reality TV humiliates people, video games promote violence or movies glorify sex. Instead he wants to know whether it gives the brain a good "cognitive workout." For Johnson, pop culture is like algebra class. Whether you remember the quadratic equation as an adult is less important than whether you learned the analytic thought processes that solving equations teaches. Likewise, for Johnson, what matters about...
...company with less of a media profile do the dirty work. Those that feel that divestment will have practical effects are deluded. The withdrawal of Harvard’s investment will temporarily change a firm’s stock price by some insignificant amount. Consequently, divestment is just a moral stand designed to garner media attention...
...case of PetroChina, a moral move may have been warranted. But now that we have made our statement against genocide in the public eye, divestment campaigns have little practical consequence. If we start divesting from every oil company we find dealing with some questionable government, we will find ourselves on a slippery slope which leads us to divest from any company with a tie to the oil industry. Usually easy media targets will be singled out, which leads to the creation of a sideshow that distracts attention from the root of the problem—the national governments that sanction...
...Resist the impulse to offer a “live tour” of Harvard academics: “seven to ten pages on the moral problems of capitalism in 19th century Poland. GO.” That is, unless your prefrosh is Polish. In which case, deadline is Monday...