Nick Reynolds Big Ideas

"Frankenstein" is far more than mere horror; it is the allegorical tale of the price that

humankind may come to pay in their relentless pursuit of knowledge and power through

inconsideration of consequence and responsibility. Victor Frankenstein is an opportunist and a

seeker, he tries to go beyond the borders of natural life and death while embarking on his

scientific project to create life out of dead body parts. His monster takes on a poignant metaphor

for the dangers intrinsic to playing at being God. Shelley's novel is a story of morality, applicable

to the ethical challenges carried forward into modern times in any scientific project, with its

resonant message: "Learn from me, if not by my precepts, at least by my example, how

dangerous is the acquirement of knowledge."

Dr. Victor Frankenstein's actions are a profound exploration of the boundaries between

scientific endeavor and ethical responsibility. Dr. Frankenstein oversteps the line between

science and humanity by creating a life without considering the moral and social implications of

his actions. His initial ambition and thirst for knowledge lead him to animate a creature, but his

subsequent rejection of this creature raises questions about responsibility and the

consequences of unchecked scientific exploration. In the text, Frankenstein himself

acknowledges the recklessness of his pursuits, reflecting, "I had worked hard for nearly two

years, for the sole purpose of infusing life into an inanimate body...but now that I had finished,

the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart.’ This

moment of realization shows us the ethical dilemma posed by his experiment, highlighting the

idea that just because science can achieve something, it does not necessarily mean it should.

Frankenstein's failure to foresee the alienation and suffering of his creation, coupled with his

refusal to accept responsibility, shows the consequences of crossing the boundary between

scientific possibility and moral responsibility.

Parallel to Shelley's novel, the recent article on a proposal for body transplant surgery in

China made by Dr. Ren Xiaoping, finds similar complexities faced today in contemporary
Nick Reynolds Big Ideas

scientific innovation, both of an ethical and practical nature. Dr. Ren's ambitious plan has been

met with skepticism and worry by the scientific community. Critics argue that the procedure,

encompassing the transplanting of the human head onto a donor body, is rife with technological

and ethical issues, especially the current inability to reconnect spinal nerves.

Ethical concerns around Dr. Ren's proposal are not without precedent. Critics argue

against the procedure and consider it "at best premature and at worst reckless," including such

prominent neurologists as Dr. James L. Bernat. Such criticisms focus a clear light on the

profound ethical ideas necessary to accompany scientific inquiry and experimentation. Dr. Ren's

procedure and the aspirations of Frankenstein are excellent examples of mirroring moral

obligations. They highlight the danger of being very enthusiastic in scientific work without

second thoughts about morals and ethics. Victor Frankenstein is a story that warns against

unchecked ambition and seeking knowledge without the wisdom that balances reality.

In brief, Dr. Frankenstein and Dr. Ren Xiaoping's endeavors describe the fine line

between genius and science that has run amok. Frankenstein and Dr. Ren Xiaopings medical

procedure raise moral concerns that become a call for moderation in scientific ambition. Both

figures at once, dared go beyond the thin line separating ingenuity from arrogance. These

stories make us appreciate the value that they pose on the question of ethics and how heavy it

is with a need for constant progress as they try to work and move further into these ever-

continuing expanded boundaries of new scientific discoveries.

Nick Reynolds Big Ideas

Citations

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Penguin Classics, 2012.

Tatlow, Didi Kirsten. “Doctor’s Plan for Full-Body Transplants Raises Doubts Even

in Daring China.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 11 June 2016,

www.nytimes.com/2016/06/12/world/asia/china-body-transplant.html.