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Resurrection of Dormant Daphnia magna: Protocol and Applications
Published on: January 19, 2018
The ethics of reviving long extinct species
1Department of Philosophy, Northeastern University, 371 Holmes Hall, Boston, MA, 02115-5000, U.S.A.. r.sandler@neu.edu.
De-extinction offers a plausible pathway for reviving extinct species, but ethical considerations are complex. While scientifically valuable, it is not a primary conservation strategy and raises ecological and animal welfare concerns.
Area of Science:
- Bioethics
- Conservation Biology
- Zoology
Background:
- Technological advancements suggest the possibility of de-extinction for species extinct for millennia.
- Ethical considerations surrounding de-extinction are multifaceted, requiring careful analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct an ethical analysis of de-extinction for long-extinct species.
- To evaluate arguments for and against pursuing de-extinction.
- To determine the ethical acceptability of de-extinction and its role in conservation.
Main Methods:
- Ethical analysis of de-extinction arguments.
- Assessment of potential benefits (justice, value restoration, societal need).
- Assessment of potential risks (unnaturalness, animal suffering, ecological/health impacts, hubris).
Main Results:
- Reasons exist to support de-extinction, viewing revived species as scientific achievements.
- De-extinction is ethically problematic as a primary conservation strategy.
- De-extinction does not prevent current extinctions or address their causes.
Conclusions:
- De-extinction can be ethically acceptable, but not as a core conservation tool.
- Ecological, political, animal welfare, legal, and human health concerns must be addressed.
- Humanity has no obligation to pursue de-extinction; it does not solve urgent problems.
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