Human cloning seems like an inevitability. When you consider how much progress man has made in the arena of cloning animals, you realize that scientists will want to bring the same technology to bear on humans. The idea of clones make sense. More that cloning animals, though, human cloning carries a dizzying array of ethical concerns that must be sorted out before man begins down this path in earnest. Let’s examine some of the disadvantages of human cloning now.

Human clones as property

The biggest disadvantage to cloning comes from the creation of a “clone class” of people, who by law, have no human rights. It doesn’t take a long study of history to know that any class of people who have less rights than the class in prevailing power tends to suffer at the hands of the elite. Clones would have no protections under law, and no basic rights. To say the least, unscrupulous people would likely push clone abuse to the very limits of human endurance if no such safeguards are put in place.

Clones: where is the love?

One thing that clearly separates man from animals is man’s capacity to love. Humankind has done miraculous, and even dreadful things in the name of love, which is probably our most powerful emotion. Will clones be loved by the “regular humans”?

Equally important, can the clones feel love towards the “regulars”, the elite class which reigns over them? Will they show capacity for the full range of human emotions, or will they be stunted on a basic level? Without answers to these questions, the effect of introducing clones to modern society is a risky proposition.

The introduction of clones to modern society will cause major social upheaval

The introduction of a clone class of people will cause an immediate social division by human groups not seen since the days of slavery. If clones are merely chattle to be abused, sold, and profited from, their low social standing will ensure they lack all opportunities and any path for advancement. If their intellect is in tact, then their level of resentment towards their “creators” is bound to be palpable.

If the disenfranchisement becomes great enough, the clones might do what many other downtrodden classes of people have done before them. They will revolt against the power structure and demand equal rights.

If cloning technology falls into the wrong hands, there could be disastrous consequences

What is Al Qaeda discovered the technology to easily make human clones? Undoubtedly they’d use them for “suicide bombing” missions, or worse. Any military, including the military of the west, would be attracted to the idea of using “expendable” people to fight conflicts. So what if a few thousand clones were killed, they would surmise. “I can always make more.”

The type of people who are most interested in the benefits of human cloning are the types of folks we most have to worry about. Clones could be used as slave labor for many nefarious activities, and in the worst case scenarios, clones would become advanced weaponry.

Creating clones cheapens life

Cloning is a strong step towards turning humans into commodities. Cloning is a building block towards the mass production of human life. Clones make people easy to replace and non-unique. Crass commercialism in the form of a “clone market” would put a dollar figure on people and life. That’s a step on a slippery slope, if ever there were one. People need to have a strong respect for life in order to appreciate the world they live in. If many come to think of life as something that’s easily created in a test tube, the miracle of human existence becomes something much more plain and course.

Right now, the technology to clone humans is either available, or very nearly ready. The only thing stopping current scientists from experimenting with cloning is the legality. Human cloning is illegal in much of the world, despite a great amount of support from supporters of the technology who see the advantages of cloning in medical research.

Current world leaders have decided that the disadvantages of human cloning currently outweigh the advantages. As the debate broadens into academic, scientific, and spiritual circles, a strict code of ethics concerning how to proceed will need to be drawn, and enforced. Without tight governance, human cloning could quickly descend into a nightmare endeavor.

The United States was quick to act, banning all human cloning with H.R. 2505 – Human Cloning Prohibition Act of 2001.

“The Administration unequivocally is opposed to the cloning of human beings either for reproduction or for research. The moral and ethical issues posed by human cloning are profound and cannot be ignored in the quest for scientific discovery.”

Let’s take a look at the Pros and Cons of Human Cloning

Let’s look at the Cons – Disadvantages of human cloning

1) No free will for the clone is the number one disadvantage of human cloning. A human clone will not ask to be born. His existence will be because someone else decided to “make him” and bring him into the world. Effectively this puts the person who cloned the clone into a position of God-like power.

2) Human cloning would be an obvious source of “slave labor” if allowed unchecked.

3) There is no guarantee that cloning is safe, even for the clones. Scientists don’t know how long clones will live or how productive their lives will be.

4) “It’s hard out here for a clone.” Life for clones won’t be easy. They’ll face routine discrimination from those non-cloned humans who feel threatened by their existence.

5) The clones themselves will be confused on issues of love and belonging. Clones might very well be emotional wrecks upon learning of their Genesis.

6) The Justice System will need an overhaul. Imagine how many people will have the same fingerprints.

7) Humans and/or body parts could become commodities. Clone farms would arise to harvest organs and worse.

The implications for the abuse of clones is literally astounding. There would be no realistic way to give “researchers” this much control over human life. The commodification of humanity alone is enough to concern anyone who’s even remotely interested in the issue.

Let’s look at the Pros – Advantages of human cloning

The list for pros is going to be a bit shorter. The main areas where human cloning would excel would be in research of medical conditions. The information available from cloning could theoretically open the key to defeat disease, and for this reason alone, many researchers will want to experiment with cloning. The potential Pros are huge, but only if the Cons can be dealt with in an effective manner.

The issue of human cloning promises to rage on. The stakes are high, and the arguments are complex. What roles human cloning plays in our future remains to be seen.

See: Disadvantages of human cloning.