Sandler Ronald
Department of Philosophy, Northeastern University, 371 Holmes Hall, Boston, MA, 02115-5000, U.S.A..
Conserv Biol. 2014 Apr;28(2):354-60. doi: 10.1111/cobi.12198. Epub 2013 Dec 20.
There now appears to be a plausible pathway for reviving species that have been extinct for several decades, centuries, or even millennia. I conducted an ethical analysis of de-extinction of long extinct species. I assessed several possible ethical considerations in favor of pursuing de-extinction: that it is a matter of justice; that it would reestablish lost value; that it would create new value; and that society needs it as a conservation last resort. I also assessed several possible ethical arguments against pursuing de-extinction: that it is unnatural; that it could cause animal suffering; that it could be ecologically problematic or detrimental to human health; and that it is hubristic. There are reasons in favor of reviving long extinct species, and it can be ethically acceptable to do so. However, the reasons in favor of pursuing de-extinction do not have to do with its usefulness in species conservation; rather, they concern the status of revived species as scientific and technological achievements, and it would be ethically problematic to promote de-extinction as a significant conservation strategy, because it does not prevent species extinctions, does not address the causes of extinction, and could be detrimental to some species conservation efforts. Moreover, humanity does not have a responsibility or obligation to pursue de-extinction of long extinct species, and reviving them does not address any urgent problem. Therefore, legitimate ecological, political, animal welfare, legal, or human health concerns associated with a de-extinction (and reintroduction) must be thoroughly addressed for it to be ethically acceptable.
现在似乎出现了一条可行的途径，可以让已经灭绝了几十年、几百年甚至几千年的物种得以复活。我对早已灭绝物种的复活进行了伦理分析。我评估了支持进行复活灭绝物种的几个可能的伦理考量因素：这关乎正义；它将重新建立失去的价值；它将创造新的价值；以及社会需要它作为最后的保护手段。我还评估了几个反对进行复活灭绝物种的可能的伦理观点：这是不自然的；它可能导致动物遭受痛苦；它可能在生态上有问题或对人类健康有害；以及它是傲慢的。有支持复活早已灭绝物种的理由，而且这样做在伦理上可以是可接受的。然而，支持进行复活灭绝物种的理由与它在物种保护中的有用性无关；相反，它们关乎复活物种作为科技成就的地位，而且将复活灭绝物种作为一项重要的保护策略在伦理上会有问题，因为它不能防止物种灭绝，不能解决灭绝的原因，并且可能对一些物种保护努力有害。此外，人类没有责任或义务去追求复活早已灭绝的物种，而且复活它们并不能解决任何紧迫问题。因此，与复活灭绝物种（和重新引入）相关的合理的生态、政治、动物福利、法律或人类健康问题必须得到彻底解决，这样它在伦理上才是可接受的。
