College Essay English 122, Rhetorical Analysis Essay

The Ethics of New Cloning Trend

“The ‘Therapeutic Cloning’ of Human Embryos”, is an article that was published in the National Review, in 2013 by Samuel Aquila. This article addresses the ethical issues with the cloning of human embryos for healthy cells to cure sicknesses. By referencing classic novels, national amendments and using emotional appeals, Aquila effectively calls readers to action. This article causes readers to think about the moral issues behind therapeutic cloning by harvesting stem cells to create embryos. He urges readers to understand the results that will come from a society that encourages this inclination. A Catholic archbishop from Colorado, Samuel Aquila, argues the therapeutic cloning of embryos “heinous” despite its possible health benefits, and the ethical and moral disputation of this new trend.

Logos is considered the “logical appeal” of an argument and Samuel Aquila uses a great deal of logic in his article when arguing the development of human embryos for therapy. Aquila begins his article with a reference to a classic novel known as, The Picture of Dorian Gray. This novel was based on the “youthful ideas about immortality” (Aquila, 302). Aquila returns to the idea of immortality and morals from this novel in the conclusion of his article. Samuel Aquila also references the Dickey Amendment, “which prohibits federal funding for the creation of cloned embryos” (Aquila, 302). This is a useful piece of information when backing up his claim for the reasons that this trend in embryonic development is wrong. Aquila also discusses that the heart of his argument and reason for this article came from scientists at Oregon Health and Science University. Although, this article is focused on the ethical and emotional reasons to consider therapeutic cloning, Samuel Aquila also uses very logical information and accurate facts to back up his reasoning.

Samuel Aquila, born in California is the fifth arch bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in...