Solones, Solo Reproduction and Vice

Abstract In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) is a technology that allows the creation of gametes from stem cells. Given that IVG makes possible the production of cross-sex gametes, IVG, if successful, can, among other uses, allow a single person to solo reproduce (i.e. have children without a sperm or egg donor). This would involve using IVG to produce one cross-sex gamete and fusing that gamete with a same-sex gamete which is either artificially or naturally derived from the same person. Because solo reproduction is a highly experimental, artificial and asexual method of reproduction, it might be comparable in many ways with reproductive cloning. One of the arguments that has been made against cloning and, by extension, solo reproduction is that it expresses and encourages vices like hubris and narcissism. In this paper, we argue that the vice argument is insufficient to justify a ban on solo reproduction. This is because the mere fact that an act is vicious does not give anyone any kind of enforceable claim on us to not act viciously.