TAKING SIDES ANALYSIS REPORT (LONG FORM) Name: Ethan Hymas

Course: Biol 1090

Book: Taking Sides; Clashing Views in Health and Society
Issue number: 7 Title of issue: Is Genetic Enhancement an Unacceptable Use of
Technology?
1. Author and major thesis of the Yes side. Michael J. Sandel believes that using
genetic technology to enhance performance, design children, and perfect human
nature is a flawed attempt at human mastery, and banishes appreciation of life as a
gift.
2. Author and major thesis of the No side. Howard Trachtman says that the medical
community should embrace enhancement as a never-ending quest for health that
recognizes that perfection can never be achieved.
3. What fallacies of question-framing are made by the authors of the text? None,
Sandel effectively phrases his questions such as they pose no logical fallacy and
Trachtman simply does not raise any questions.
4. Briefly state in your own words two facts presented by each side.
Yes: Sandel refers to H. Lee Sweeny, a scientist at the University of Pennsylvania,
who has researched and discovered a synthetic gene that prevents and reverses
muscle deterioration. Also Sandel mentions the ability of scientists to manipulate
the memories of fruit flies, giving them photographic memories.
No: Trachtman recognizes that the medical community has made many
advancements in technology and medicine. Also he identifies the fact that patients
who need medical care are intent on their troubles being resolved.
5. Briefly state in your own words two opinions presented by each side.
Yes: According to Sandel, creating genetic enhancements to alter the height of
individuals will result in discrimination. The wealthier and more privileged leaving
the individuals who are unable to attain such traits in the dust. This is an opinion
because Sandel assumes that the height hormone is an extremely desirable trait
that will cause a rush of parents attempting to alter their child who is healthy and
has no need for genetic enhancement. Sandel also believes that the act of choosing
the sex of a child is destroying the appreciation of the human powers and
achievements. He believes that it is not for us to decide the gender of our child and
that the parents should live with their choice instead of appealing to their own
desires.
No: Trachtman states that each medical advancement is inherently flawed, creating
a further necessity for more progress in order to create more and more cures for

each ailment people suffer as human beings. Trachtman also believes that genetic
enhancement is not immoral, humans have been progressing medically for
hundreds of years, enhancement is only another step of the progress of the human
race.
6. Briefly identify as many fallacies on the Yes side as you can.
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7. Briefly identify as many fallacies on the No side as you can.
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8. All in all, which author impressed you as being the most empirical in presenting
his or her thesis? Why?
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9. Are there any reasons to believe the writers are biased? If so, why do they have
these biases?
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10. Which side (Yes or No) do you personally feel is most correct now that you have
reviewed the material in these articles? Why?