During that time I have come to realize that the discourse on ethics is tied to another theme that we continually hear that of change. We are constantly being told that higher education is going to look very different, even in five years. We are all aware of the changes in our lives that technology has brought and will continue to bring. Experts say we haven't seen anything yet. Social structure has changed dramatically with the definition of family now encompassing multiple structures.
Gender roles are no longer clear-cut.
As new discoveries and new knowledge challenge traditional ways of thinking, the world is becoming even more complex. The ethical decision is often between two rights. Consider the right of a child to be raised in a society that values basic human freedoms and the biological and parental rights of a father to raise his own child. What about the need to unlock the mysteries of a terrible disease that affects over half of the people age 85 and older and the need to value the rights of those who believe that human life begins at conception. We are just beginning to see the ethical issues that the use of biotechnology to manipulate genetic material will raise.