Contemporary Issue
–
▪ A case problem, situation, or subject matter
of great interest and crucial significance
that demands a moral decision.
▪ Involves the rightness or wrongness of an
action.
▪ Moral decision → moral issue →
intellectual deliberation → moral action
(MORAL REASONING)
▪ An argument justifying the reason/s offered
for or against a moral decision.
MORAL DECISION
▪ The final judgment, verdict, conclusion or
action taken which is based on, drawn from,
and substantiated by, the justifying reasons
or evidence given to a moral predicament
under deliberation.
1. it involves moral reasoning, in which reasons
are presented to support one's moral
decision or position
2. One's justifying reasons are believed to be
universally valid, or binding on everyone,
irrespective of creed, race or clime; and
3. It presents a moral dilemma - that is, the
moral issue is problematic and perplexing.
ISSUE 1: STEM CELL RESEARCH
▪ Stem cells are cells that have the ability to
divide and produce exact copies of
themselves for an indefinite number of times
and to transform to specialized cells. (from
the research conducted by Dr. Eduardo G.
Gonzales of DLSU Medical Center.
▪ Fertilized ovum → stem cells
▪ Stem cells that arise during the first few
days of embryonic development are very
versatile cells that have unlimited capacity.
Contemporary Issue | ISSUE 1 – ISSUE 2
ISSUE 1: STEM CELL RESEARCH (In the Medical
Context)
▪ Stem cells can be used:
1. to generate cells in the laboratory
which can then be introduced to the
body to replace damaged, injured, or
dead cells in any tissue or organ.
2. as sources of replacement cells that can
treat many diseases that affect the
brain and the spinal cord, such as
stroke, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's
disase and Parkinson's disease.
3. to multiply rapidly and transform into
skin cells that can cover burned areas.
4. to form new cells to replace damaged
or dead ones in any organ of the body
like the kidney, liver, and lung.
ISSUE 1: STEM CELL RESEARCH (Application of
Ethical Theories)
▪ CHRISTIAN ETHICS
• In light of the value of life
principle, to use human embryos or
fetuses, either inside or outside the
mother's womb, as the object of
experimentation, constitute a crime
against their dignity as human
beings, having a right to the same
respect that is due to the child
already born and to every human
person.
▪ UTILITARIAN ETHICS
• It is legitimate insofar as it is
conducted togenerate cells in the
laboratory, which can be
introduced to the body to replace
damaged, injured or dead cells. (It
benefits people suffering from
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease)
 Contemporary Issue
–
▪ PRAGMATIST'S ETHICS
▪ If only for its pragmatic, beneficial and
useful medical ends, stem cell research is
legitimate and worth conducting.
▪ Stem cells → master cells that have the
potential to develop into organ → long-
awaited phenomenal scientific
breakthrough.
ISSUE 2: CONTRACEPTION
▪ Defined as the voluntary prevention of
conception by the positive use of artificial
means, which hinder the sperm cell and the
egg cell from uniting during the sexual act.
▪ Family planning, planned parenthood and
birth control
▪ Prevention of conception rather than
prevention of birth
▪ TWO METHODS TO PREVENT CONTRACEPTION:
1. Natural Method
2. Artificial Method
▪ Moral issue: rightness or wrongness of the
use of various methods by which conception
can be prevented in the conjugal union.
JUSTIFICATION FOR CONTRACEPTION
1. Parenthood and birth are matters of
moral responsibility & intelligent choice;
2. A couple should be the ones to
determine their fertility and should be
the ones to control their fecundity;
3. A couple should be able to decide how
many children they are able to bear
and support;
4. Contraceptive technology makes
husband and wife persons of will and
decision, and not merely inert and
powerless bodies subject to church
prescriptions or to the divine will.
5. Contraception checks the transmission
of recessive disorders, genetically-
Contemporary Issue | ISSUE 1 – ISSUE 2
linked and/or sexually-related diseases.
(i.e. HIV virus or AIDS)
ISSUE 2: CONTRACEPTION (Application of Ethical
Theories)
▪ CHRISTIAN ETHICS
• Contraception is morally wrong
• UTILITARIAN ETHICS
• May justify contraception and
sterilization in terms of the great
happiness and benefits that they
will ultimately bring forth to the
family as a whole.
▪ PRAGMATIST'S ETHICS
• Considers the practically,
usefulness, workability, and
beneficiality that the practice can
provide for the couple who want to
limit the number of children they
can afford to support and educate,
without sacrificing the unitive
element of marriage.
▪ SITUATION ETHICS
• Views contraception within the
context of a given situation.
• Contraception is either good or
bad depending upon the
circumstances.
• Making babies = making love (even
if we don't intend to make babies)
• Making love = without making
babies is through the use of
contraception.