Lapse of Reason

IN November, the libertarian magazine Reason posted on its website defenses of human cloning by 38 “leading thinkers and commentators.” The occasion was noteworthy for several reasons. One is that Virginia Postrel, the former editor of the magazine who organized the feature, assembled a truly impressive group. Writers included Nobel Prize-winning scientists, prominent bioethicists, political scientists, law professors, economists, and philosophers. The symposium provided a fair sampling of the best arguments for human cloning on offer.

Another reason to pay attention is that human cloning is quickly rising to the top of issues that divide libertarians from conservatives. To be sure, many supporters of cloning, including many of Postrel’s contributors, are not libertarians. But many of the most articulate supporters are libertarians, and the issue has clearly become a priority for them. Postrel recently went so far as to write that much as she dislikes Tom Daschle, she hopes the Democrats keep the Senate this year because they’re less hostile to cloning.

About the Author

Ramesh Ponnuru

Ramesh Ponnuru is the editor of National Review, a columnist for the Washington Post, and a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

IN November, the libertarian magazine Reason posted on its website defenses of human cloning by 38 “leading thinkers and commentators.” The occasion was noteworthy for several reasons. One is that Virginia Postrel, the former editor of the magazine who organized the feature, assembled a truly impressive group. Writers included Nobel Prize-winning scientists, prominent bioethicists, political scientists, law professors, economists, and philosophers. The symposium provided a fair sampling of the best arguments for human cloning on offer.

Another reason to pay attention is that human cloning is quickly rising to the top of issues that divide libertarians from conservatives. To be sure, many supporters of cloning, including many of Postrel’s contributors, are not libertarians. But many of the most articulate supporters are libertarians, and the issue has clearly become a priority for them. Postrel recently went so far as to write that much as she dislikes Tom Daschle, she hopes the Democrats keep the Senate this year because they’re less hostile to cloning.