Through time, dignity has been a controversial concept. Francis Fukuyama, author of “Human Dignity” discusses the topic of dignity and who deserves it. Human dignity is a term that is seen as “the desire for someone to be recognized and respected by others in a way they believe they deserve” (Fukuyama 185). Many debates have arrived about how the word should be defined and explained, as well as who deserves the right of dignity. However, dignity has been limited to a respect given only to humanity based on certain qualities they have called Factor X, which in turn can also limit the human population that is not given dignity. (Fukuyama 186) Therefore, dignity is a factor that should be given to other species as well as humans, based not on …show more content…
It is defined as “the most basic meaning of what it means to be human and it can vary between people, as well as can be subject to manipulation by other environments, people, and species.” (Fukuyama 186-187) Francis Fukuyama relates his idea of who should have dignity to the unique characteristics that a person has, such as a person who is more or less sensitive toward others or more or less reasonable in dealing with a situation, compared to others. Fukuyama’s basis of being human revolves around “moral choices, possession, and species-typical emotion”, each of which is a factor that could be found in other species. (203) Fukuyama …show more content…
Clones are “beings that were genetically altered in the embryonic state” (Fukuyama 191). However, this would not change the fact that they too are living beings. This being said, it stands to reason that they too deserve the same amount of dignity and respect as any other living creature would receive. Fukuyama had feared that by allowing cloning and genetic selectivity, the clones would receive unfair advantages and in some ways earn dignity in an unfair way. (191-192) But, it would most likely not happen in such a way as Fukuyama also states “But the opposite possibility also seems to be entirely plausible-that there will be an impetus toward a much more genetically egalitarian society. For it seems highly unlikely that people in the modern democratic societies will sit around complacently if they see elites embedding their advantages genetically in their children…”