Persuasive And Scientific Thinking
Description of the problems
First problem situation: Global Warming
Global warming is often defined as a case whereby the average temperature of the air near the earths surface as well as tee temperature of the ocean increasing gradually. Recent research has shown that by the end of the 20th century, the temperature of the earth’s surface had increased by 1.330C and this level is predicted to increase before the end of the 21st century (Natural Resources Defence Council 2010).Among the major causes of global, warming, human activities have considerably contributed to the rise in temperatures. Human activities such as release of greenhouse gases from combustion of fossil fuels as well as more industries releasing harmful fumes which contain extreme amounts of carbon dioxide have caused depletion of the ozone. Deforestation has also been blamed for increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in circulation as well as reducing the capacity of the natural ecosystem to sustain itself. Consequently, there are natural activities such as volcanic eruptions which have contributed to some extent to global warming but human activities are the key causes (Natural Resources Defence Council 2010).Global warming has caused several life threatening situations to emerge due to the disruption of the natural ecosystem. Ice sheets and glaciers have melted resulting into increased sea water which sometimes causes instability at sea such that tornadoes as well as hurricanes arise and they cause extensive loss of human lives. Similarly, the green house gases cause various respiratory diseases such as cancer due to interference with the genetic make up of the individuals (Natural Resources Defence Council 2010).
Second problem situation: Human Genetic Engineering
Human genetic engineering involves alteration of an individual’s genetic make up such that the phenotype of the individual can be changed. Human genetic engineering has been carried out quite intensively in the recent past as a way of changing the physical appearance, the metabolism as well as the intelligence of an individual to increase efficiency of an individual (Howland and Stock, 2000).Human genetic engineering is often carried out by adding somatic cells to the reproductive cells such that parents with a history of a genetic disease can be able to produce young ones who lack the disorder. Therefore, genetic disorders are eliminated especially by applying germline human genetic engineering. The same procedure can also be applied to individuals with a poor immunity to viruses such that through genetic engineering of their immune system, they will be able to achieve permanent immunity boosted (Howland, 2000).Although, human genetic engineering has predicted a major breakthrough in reducing mortality of human beings as a result of hereditary disorders, the field has aroused quiet a number of ethical issues. Chances of the engineered genes producing unfavorable results as well as complications which may become dangerous than the real disorder are extremely high. Similarly, the procedure is quite expensive hence only the wealthy can afford them thus the less fortunate are left out in enhancing their intelligence levels (Howland, 2000).
Persuasive thinking
Persuasive thinking was sued to solve the first problem especially due to the increased effects of human activities on the global environment. This make it quite easy to persuade human beings and especially those who hold key positions in leadership to look for ways of reducing instances which produce excess green house gases. It is even easier to persuade individual countries to plant trees as well as monitor the nature of fumes which are released from major industries as a way of limiting the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.Persuasive thinking allows the concerned parties to look at the benefits accrued form a certain undertaking in addition to the losses that are derived and after that a decision is made on the most appropriate direction to heed. In the situation of global warming, the negative impact of the human activities precede the benefits hence it becomes easier to persuade people to adopt an alternative to solve the problem.
Scientific thinking
Scientific thinking involves facts which are verifiable through experimentation as well as by observing their impact on the lives of human beings. In as much as human genetic engineering has generated a lot of controversies about its ethical aspects, more solutions have been found for fundamental problems in the society. After the procedure has been experimented in controlled conditions, the results which include elimination of most mutations as well as the problems associated with treating disorders caused by gene mutation.
References
Howland, J. and Stock, G. (2000), Engineering the human germline: an exploration of the science and ethics of altering the genes we pass to our children. London: Oxford University Press
Natural Resources Defence Council (2010), Annual Report: Curbing global warming and creating the clean energy future. Retrieved on June 4, 2010 from:
www.nrdc.org/globalwarming/ .
Is this your assignment or some part of it?
We can do it for you! Click to Order!
