William Graham Sumner was a sociologist during the 19th century who conducted extensive studies on the sociology of society and human interaction. In his study of the dynamics of society, Sumner focuses on the function of social norms for the society. In his discourse, he posits that social norms and traditions that have influenced societies for a long time are the main reason why there is an impediment in the introduction and implementation of social changes or reforms. Moreover, Sumner explains how social reform is an essential part of society's development, and also because changes are an integral part of humankind's natural right to liberty: "The truth is that the social order is fixed by laws of nature precisely analogous to those of the physical order... The evils of society are to a great extent the result of the dogmatism and self-interest of statesmen... Instead of studying the natural laws of the social order, they assumed that they could organize society as they chose..." In his discourse, The Challenge of Facts, Sumner also states, "What we mean by liberty is civil liberty, or liberty under law... this means... that a man shall not be interfered with while using his own powers for his own welfare." Thus, when these arguments are applied in the context of the issue of cloning and stem cell research, Sumner would express agreement to this social change in the society. Positing that humankind's right to preserve themselves in the best possible way gives them the right to subsist to cloning and stem cell research when humankind is in endangered to extinction due to death or illness. The social norm where human beings are born through fertilization and pregnancy will no longer be the norm; instead, people, as they try to perpetuate the human race, may possibly resort to cloning and stem cell research in order to make human conditions better and easier. Thus, the abolition of rigid social norms and the introduction of social changes/reforms are the key arguments that Sumner introduces in his study of human social interaction.

Bibliography

Sumner, W. (1914). The Challenge of Facts. Available at: Internet Modern History Sourcebook Web site: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook.html.