Freethought & Rationalism Archive

chekmate · 09-25-2003, 08:39 AM

I'm writing a paper, and I have hit a mental block. I am comparing changing attitudes in science and technology. What is a good example of a technology that was considered morally/ethically terrible when it first came out, but is now commonplace and accepted?

Thanks for help.

Monkeybot · 09-25-2003, 08:43 AM

Oral contraceptives. Although there are still some hardliners who still think the pill is morally wrong, I seriously doubt they'll have any success in changing the laws or social attitudes.

Mageth · 09-25-2003, 08:47 AM

Contraceptives, including, but not limited to, "the pill" and condoms, perhaps. There has been quite a lot of moral resistance to birth control methods over the last 100+ years (and still is, unfortunately).

Edit: monkeybot is right; oral contraceptives (or any contraceptive developed for use by women) in general have met greater moral resistance than contraceptives for men. So condoms are not a particularly good example.

chekmate · 09-25-2003, 08:52 AM

You guys are quick... thanks!

Claudia · 09-25-2003, 09:01 AM

dissection of humans for medical knowledge. Completely forbidden some times in the Middle Age, accepted now if the person gave his body to science.

Cheiron · 09-25-2003, 09:15 AM

Depending which country you're in Abortion.

Or depending which sect, blood transfusions.

NialScorva · 09-25-2003, 10:50 AM

Anesthesia for women during child birth.

Is it odd that all the examples suggested so far seem to revolve around women getting medical care of some kind?

Alonzo Fyfe · 09-25-2003, 10:53 AM

Immunizations (esp. against small pox) on the grounds that preventing plagues was "playing God"

Non-praying Mantis · 09-25-2003, 11:34 AM

For an example of a non-medical technology that did this:

Motor Cars

The first motor cars tended to scare horses, and so were thought to be a bad idea.

NPM

Demosthenes · 09-25-2003, 12:27 PM

in vitro fertilization

09-25-2003, 08:39 AM	#1
chekmate Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Downriver Detroit Posts: 1,961	Need help: changing morals. I'm writing a paper, and I have hit a mental block. I am comparing changing attitudes in science and technology. What is a good example of a technology that was considered morally/ethically terrible when it first came out, but is now commonplace and accepted? Thanks for help.

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09-25-2003, 08:43 AM	#2
Monkeybot Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: North Carolina Posts: 8,102	Oral contraceptives. Although there are still some hardliners who still think the pill is morally wrong, I seriously doubt they'll have any success in changing the laws or social attitudes.

09-25-2003, 08:47 AM	#3
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	Contraceptives, including, but not limited to, "the pill" and condoms, perhaps. There has been quite a lot of moral resistance to birth control methods over the last 100+ years (and still is, unfortunately). Edit: monkeybot is right; oral contraceptives (or any contraceptive developed for use by women) in general have met greater moral resistance than contraceptives for men. So condoms are not a particularly good example.

09-25-2003, 08:52 AM	#4
chekmate Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Downriver Detroit Posts: 1,961	You guys are quick... thanks!

09-25-2003, 09:01 AM	#5
Claudia Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: France Posts: 715	dissection of humans for medical knowledge. Completely forbidden some times in the Middle Age, accepted now if the person gave his body to science.

09-25-2003, 09:15 AM	#6
Cheiron Regular Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Posts: 371	Depending which country you're in Abortion. Or depending which sect, blood transfusions.

09-25-2003, 10:50 AM	#7
NialScorva Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Median strip of DC beltway Posts: 1,888	Anesthesia for women during child birth. Is it odd that all the examples suggested so far seem to revolve around women getting medical care of some kind?

09-25-2003, 10:53 AM	#8
Alonzo Fyfe Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: 920B Milo Circle Lafayette, CO Posts: 3,515	Immunizations (esp. against small pox) on the grounds that preventing plagues was "playing God"

09-25-2003, 11:34 AM	#9
Non-praying Mantis Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Roanoke, VA, USA Posts: 2,646	For an example of a non-medical technology that did this: Motor Cars The first motor cars tended to scare horses, and so were thought to be a bad idea. NPM

09-25-2003, 12:27 PM	#10
Demosthenes Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: a speck of dirt Posts: 2,510	in vitro fertilization

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