The Problem of Utilitarianism

1
The Problem of Utilitarianism

• todays issue - embryonic stem cell research
• key questions
• what constitutes being human?
• when does one become a person?

2
Christian Anthropology

• UTILITARIANISM
• what is useful is good
• a good result/outcome makes it a good action
• embryonic stem cell research is good
• increases knowledge
• could treat disease

• PERSONALISM
• human being is a person
• never treat a human being as a means to an end
  but always an end unto himself/herself
• embryonic stem cell research is not good
• a person is killed in the process