Foreword

• Author: Wilbert J. Keon
• Profession: Senator
• Pages: 7-9

Foreword

Concern

for man

himself

and his

fate

must

always

be the

chief

interest

of

all

technical endeavors

. . . in

order that

the

creations

of

our

mind

shall

be a

blessing

and not a

curse

to

mankind.

Albert

Einstein, 1931

ur

technological capability today outpaces

the

science

fiction

of

only

a few

years ago. Present-day advances

in

science

and

technology

now

touch every stage

of our

lives

and

penetrate

to the

very origins

of

human beings. These advances raise complex

issues that

form

the

core

of

this timely

new

work

by

Maureen McTeer.

Ms.

McTeer emphasizes that every

one of us

will inevitably

be

affected

by

science

and

technology's reach

and

promise.

But she

warns that

we

also

need

to be

prepared

to

make

the

tough choices that

new

develop-

ments force upon

us.

This message lies

at the

heart

of

this far-seeing book.

The

reader

is

challenged

to

ponder

a

host

of

thorny questions.

Should

embryos

be

sold?

To

what moral

and

social status should

we

entitle

them? Under what conditions should they

be

used

in

research?

Is

vii

o