The Idea of progress

I'm going to talk about the notion Idea of progress. To begin with, I'd like to give a definition of progress. The idea of progress basically consists in believing that the world can become better in terms of art, science, technology, liberty, and quality of life. However, sometimes progress causes more problems than it solves .Consequently, we are going to weigh the positive and negatives aspects of progress, in science , in medicine and in new technologies.

I. Positive aspects of progress

Firstly, we have studied an article from the new york times which title was « Dolly, the First Cloned Mammal ». In 1996, Dolly was the first mammal to be created by cloning became the most famous sheep in history and die at six. Cloning is the production of genetically identical organisms. From a medical point of view it would it would be a great step forward for the human condition.

This could be used to counter genetic disease, this could be a source of genetically identical body parts for transplant treatment of injured individuals and tsave their lives. This also would provide the opportunity for sterile couples to have babies.

This document show that science's progress can correct nature’s mistakes and improve our human condition but there is also progress in new technologies

we studied an article from The Guardian which dealt with cameras CCTV installed in London. The UK is the most spied upon nation in the world. CCTV is used to provide evidence to prove a crime has been committed. Cameras have the ability to reveal someone's identity which can be beneficialwhen used in the correct way. Video surveillance cameras are beneficial in public places as it means people are less likely to commit a criminal act as there is a high probability that they will be caught. Having cameras in public places make people feel safe. This shows that new technologies' progress has helped improve our daily.

We also talked about an other new technologies : Internet and the cell phones. In today's world, with the development of technology, Information and Communications Technology have inevitably become an important element in our lives because of it being quick and easy to use. People have become busy in spite of their jobs, so they want to reach information in the easiest way and to keep in touch with their family members, their friends,...

Transition : New technologies in general improved our living conditions nevertheless, progress fo science also raises some issues

I. Negative aspects of progress

From an ethical point of view, cloning raises problems because destroying embryos and using them only for the purpose of research would be considered as unethical. Moreover, cloning could become a real market and would devalue children and treat them as commodities.

There also are uncertain genetic consequences: many of the early animal clones had clinical problems derived from genetic effects. For example, old age illnesses in the youthful Dolly the sheep.

A lot of people worry that cloned people would be regarded as slaves or second class citizens with no civil rights ,since they are just copies. I find this reasoning absolutely ridiculous, since a person is a person despite their genetic source or if artificially created.

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