Intentional destruction of life

[Willowbark]

Smallpox has been given another three year reprieve from the hangman's gallows.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/05/24/who_smallpox/

"Everyone at the World Health Assembly in Geneva agreed that the virus should be destroyed at some stage". This is a truly horrific disease, but is it right that we should intentionally destroy any form of life?

 

[JBuk]

yes

 

[Pinkribbonscars]

I don't see any need to destroy it, it does no harm and may be useful for some unknown reason in the future.

 

[crisbduck]

No and we shouldn't be keeping life caged up like this, let it be free!
And stop taking your medicine everyone its killing precious bacterial life!

 

[int]

Odd that Iran led the opposition...

 

[GreatAuk]

I say give it an ultimatum - let it serve out another few years of its sentence, then let it out, but make it clear to it that if it does anything wrong then it'll be going straight on death row.

 

[Destination]

... but is it right that we should intentionally destroy any form of life?

Yes, yes it is, highest on food chain, we can do whatever we like.

In this case, I personally wouldn't destory the virus, as its tough to recreate it should we get a smatter outbreak at one point.

As for rights and wrongs, odd question to ask about a single cellular organism.

 

[Vulcan]

it does no harm

It kills you.

 

[Liampope]

As for rights and wrongs, odd question to ask about a single cellular organism.

Single cell organisms still have feelings ya know!

 

[Vonhelmet]

If it still has research value, then we should keep it. Otherwise, why not get shot of it.

 

[Wicksta]

If it still has research value, then we should keep it. Otherwise, why not get shot of it.

How do we know that it might not have some kind of research value in the future?

And what if aliens invade us and the only thing that kills them is smallpox?

 

[Vonhelmet]

How do we know that it might not have some kind of research value in the future?

And what if aliens invade us and the only thing that kills them is smallpox?

Hence why I'm inclined to think it's worth keeping, provided it's very secure.

 

[crisbduck]

But we've sequenced the DNA for all major variations, isn't it easily replicable?

 

[AHarvey]

Yes, yes it is, highest on food chain, we can do whatever we like.

I hate this opinion people have that humans should be able to do whatever we like because we are top dog. Do you not think that its more important that we, as the top of the food chain make it our responsibility to preserve everything below us? Guardians of the planet maybe?

I'm not some hippy freak, I eat meat, drive even when I shouldn't, but at the same time, put value on other things.

As for a virus, it would be stupid to get rid of all samples, purely because we all know, as soon as you throw something out, not matter how long its sat there unused, you will need it

 

[Tefal]

always best to keep some, never know when it will come in usefull (medically speaking).

 

[Tefal]

I hate this opinion people have that humans should be able to do whatever we like because we are top dog. Do you not think that its more important that we, as the top of the food chain make it our responsibility to preserve everything below us? Guardians of the planet maybe?

What gives us the right to preserve the status quo, to deny the existence of all the flora and fauna that would have replaced what we have artificially preserved?

 

[cheets64]

Evolution by man

 

[Energize]

A virus isn't a form of life.

 

[Tefal]

Evolution by man

that's quite the non sequitur.

 

[Hunders]

A virus isn't a form of life.

That depends what your definition of life is. My lecturer at university was of the belief that viruses are a form of life.