|
Well, I can argue both sides.
The soul MAY be quite a bit more than poetic license. We just don't know. I'll say there isn't much scientific evidence for one. On the other hand, a belief is not categorically wrong just because it can only be proven, today, by a leap of faith. Put me on the side that worries about the rights of future uploaded humans. I sense I have a shot at becoming one, though perhaps the next generation is most likely.
Where would a soul come from if you were cloned? Does a normal human soul come from splitting the parents' souls? Is soul-stuff a zero sum game (takes away from the parents), infinite (seems less likely), or does it come from a pool in the ether or mind of God? If God breathes a soul into every human then are we forcing God's hand when we fully clone a human ("here you go Clyde, time for soul stuffin' ")?
Are there no aliens in the soul worldview? Or do only humans get a soul? If lack-of-soul is caused by the alien religious difference then why do all humans, with different religions, get souls?
It still seems to me the best course of behavior is to assume either nobody has a soul or else everyone gets one, barring proof one way or the other. Otherwise we could end up treating aliens, clones, and/or uploads very poorly. Besides, just because animals don't have souls (according to a popular view), that doesn't entitle us to treat them badly. Of course, it does let us eat them...
|