From Zygote to Human

1
Evolutionary Epistemology and the Politics of
Stem Cell Research
By Ronald F. White, Ph.D. Professor of
Philosophy College of Mount St. Joseph
2
Philosophical Assumptions

• Inquiry is the pursuit of explanation,
  prediction, and control of natural events.
• There is a difference between scientific and
  non-scientific modes of inquiry.
• Scientific inquiry is progressive.
• Scientific progress is Darwinian.
• variation and selection
• Regulation and Funding of scientific medical
  research by the United States government is
  inevitable.

3
From Zygote to Human
4
Two Sources of Pluripotent Stem Cells
5
From Totipotent Stem Cells to Specialized Cells
6
Stem Cell Applications
7
Evolutionary Epistemology

• Two Evolutionary Principles
• THE EVOLUTIONARY PRINCIPLE Science progresses on
  the basis of trial and error. Public policy can
  have a direct impact on the efficiency of that
  process. Researchers and investors enter or exit
  from research markets based on rational,
  self-interest. Successful research attracts
  self-interested private researchers and
  investors and, unsuccessful research tends to
  repel self-interested private researchers and
  investors. On the trial side of the equation, any
  public policy that increases the number of
  researchers and investors working on any given
  question, increases the likelihood that at least
  one researcher will find the answer, and the
  sooner that answer will be found. Conversely,
  any public policy that limits entry into any
  given research market decreases the likelihood of
  discovering any given answer. On the error side,
  science requires that rational self-interested
  researchers and investors abandon (or deselect)
  unsuccessful research markets. In short,
  researchers and investors must be willing to cut
  their losses.
• THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE Knowledge of the
  ultimate terminus of scientific research is
  highly fallible. We cannot predict beforehand
  with certainty, if any given line of scientific
  research will be successful, nor can we predict
  which individuals or groups of individuals might
  benefit or be harmed by that research. Hence, we
  cannot accurately predict if conducting stem cell
  research will be successful or not, nor can we
  predict if anyone will ever benefit from it, nor
  can we predict who will be harmed by it. Nor can
  we make any sound rational utilitarian judgments
  of social costs and benefits. Conversely, we
  cannot accurately predict if anyone will ever
  benefit from not conducting stem cell research
  nor can we predict who will be harmed by not
  conducting that research. Therefore, all slippery
  slope arguments, both for and against stem cell
  research, come with ready-made counterarguments.

8
Economics of Research

• Researchers enter and exist research markets
  based on rational self-interest
• Attracted to most promising areas
• High probability of success, potentially
  profitable, low risk (inexpensive), short-term
  research
• Repelled by most unpromising areas
• Low probability of success, potentially
  unprofitable, high risk (expensive), long-term
  research
• Primary research (Basic Science)
• Stem Cell Research
• Unknown probability of success, potentially
  profitable, high risk (expensive), long-term
  research

9
Public Policy and the Economics of Research

• Public Policy Can Increase or Decrease the Number
  of Researchers Working in Any Given Research
  Area or Theory.
• Public Policy Can Increase or Decrease How Long
  Those Researchers Remain Committed to Any
  Research Area or Theory.

10
Government and Scientific Research

• Regulation of Scientific Research
• Enforce religious and metaphysical beliefs (no)
• Protect research subjects and insure the
  integrity of scientific procedures (yes)
• Funding of Scientific Research
• Attractive research (no)
• corporate welfare
• Unattractive research-(some)
• Primary research

11
Arguments Against Stem Cell Public Policy
Designed to Enforce of Metaphysical and/or
Religious Beliefs

• Lack of Consensus
• Unstable Research Environment
• Brain Drain

12
Arguments Against Public Funding for Stem Cell
Research

• Unnecessary
• Discourages Private Funding
• Stifles Innovation
• Promotes Research Oligopolies and Monopolies
• Can perpetuate unattractive Dead End Science
• Competes With Other Public Goods
• Corporate Welfare

13
Conclusions

• Avoid regulating stem cell research based on the
  enforcement of metaphysical and/or religious
  beliefs.
• Regulate stem cell research in order to insure
  the integrity of science and to protect research
  subjects.
• The domain of research subjects is to be
  established based on an overlapping consensus.
• Based on evolutionary epistemology, governmental
  funding of stem cell research is neither
  necessary nor desirable.