> Issue Briefs > Life

The Immorality of Happiness?

Posted: November 21, 2019
By: R. J. Snell, Ph.D.

Many of the debates in bioethics are really about competing visions of happiness. For example, if happiness is a mental-emotional state of good-feeling, then negative or bad feelings are tantamount to unhappiness, and an ethical system which forbids actions which … Read

Does Climate Change Justify Engineering a New Type of Person?

Posted: September 11, 2019
By: R. J. Snell, Ph.D.

Out of concerns for the environment, and especially due to climate, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle recently announced their intention to have no more than two children. Some believe this is not sufficient and have committed to “BirthStrike,” that is, … Read

Protecting the Body: Principles for the Future

Posted: September 3, 2019
By: R. J. Snell, Ph.D.

“There’s a war going on over our bodies,” argues a recent essay by Susie Orbach, a noted therapist. She speaks not of overt violence, but rather the alluring “promise of trouble-free, almost body-free existence as we move towards futures constituted … Read

“Not Really Asking.” Representative Sims and the Threat to Reason

Posted: May 10, 2019
By: R. J. Snell, Ph.D.

Over the last several days, videos of Pennsylvania State Representative Brian Sims accosting protestors quietly praying outside of a Philadelphia-area Planned Parenthood clinic have received wide notice and commentary. In one video, Sims appears to offer a financial reward to … Read

Persons, not Compost: How to Think About Dead Bodies

Posted: February 15, 2019
By: R. J. Snell, Ph.D.

“Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Familiar words to many, a reminder of the shortness of life and the need to use our time well. While some may find the sentiment morbid, it is actually a … Read

New York’s Take on Fundamental Rights

Posted: January 18, 2019
By: R. J. Snell, Ph.D.

In recent days, news outlets have reported on the likely passage of the Reproductive Health Act (RHA) in New York state. Among other changes, the RHA repeals the requirement for abortion to be performed by a licensed physician and expands … Read

Suffering Elders In Our Families: How Does One Respond?

Posted: October 3, 2018
By: Frank J. Moncher, Ph.D.

A frightening trend is quickly emerging in this country, and it promises to muddy the waters when it comes to confronting the reality of aging loved ones. Today, there are seven jurisdictions in the United States where Physician-Assisted Suicide (PAS) … Read

Designer Grandchild: Wealthy British Couple Paid to Create a Grandson

Posted: September 24, 2018
By: E. Christian Brugger, D.Phil.

Two grandparents in the United Kingdom have confirmed the adage that if something can be done, no matter how bizarre, somebody will eventually do it. According to the U.K.’s Mirror Online, these grandparents, described as “extremely rich,” created a designer … Read

Reversing Roe v. Wade and Its Implications for Women and the States

Posted: September 19, 2018
By: Margaret Datiles Watts, J.D.

Anthony Kennedy’s retirement and the ongoing confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh have reignited the national conversation on reversing Roe v. Wade and its implications for women and the states. There are many public misconceptions surrounding this issue, … Read

Do Illegal Immigrants Have Constitutional Rights?

Posted: January 16, 2018
By: Margaret Datiles Watts, J.D.

Over two hundred years of Supreme Court law have established that persons who enter the country unlawfully and bear no connections to the U.S. do not have the full scope of affirmative constitutional rights of a U.S. citizen. This long-standing … Read

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