David Heaf's Articles Index Page
The Cloning of Dolly the Sheep
This article describes what was actually done in the creation of the first mammal from an adult cell, examines the ethical issues and takes a brief look at human cloning. It includes an image of the cloning process. The article was first published in New View*, 3rd Quarter, 1997, pp. 26-29.
This article looks at two examples of direct action: one is the destruction of a field of genetically modified maize by Greenpeace in 1999 and the other is the 'Rebecca' riots in Wales in 1839-44 in which direct activists destroyed the toll bars which were set up on the roads. The paradox of acting ethically in the context of conflicting world views is examined in the light of ethical individualism as outlined in Rudolf Steiner's Philosophy of Freedom. This article was first published in New Vew*, 1st Quarter, 2000, pp37-39.
This short article describes an initiative which seeks to deepen the GM food debate by uncovering presuppositions and pre-scientific world views. It takes as an example two contrasting pictures of a living organism. The author briefly looks at how the world we live in is created by how we think and how current social forms compromise a healthy process of evolution of appropriate technology in a social context. The article is the transcript of a talk given at a public debate in Bath in 1999.
This article, first published in New View in Spring 1997, looks at the instrumentalisation of the dying but not yet dead human being who is denied personhood in the process of using the victim as a source of organs for helping others. It attempts to bring some indications from spiritual science which may help in moral deliberations of this questionable activity in our society.
Other articles by the author can be found in the articles section of the web site of Ifgene -- The International Forum for Genetic Engineering
David Heaf is a biochemist by profession who edits the newsletter of the Science Group of the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain and is UK coordinator of Ifgene. David Heaf's email address is available on the web sites of these organisations.
The URL of this page is: http://www.heaf.freeuk.com/articles.htm
*New View is available from the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain, Email editor@newview.org.uk N.B. New View only, not David Heaf