Gregory E. Pence (born January 17, 1948) is an American philosopher.
Biography
He graduated
cum laude with a B.A. from
William and Mary and a
Ph.D. from
New York University, writing under visiting Australian bioethicist
Peter Singer. Professor Pence taught a required course in bioethics for thirty-four years to 165 medical students at the
University of Alabama School of Medicine.[1] In 2006,
Samford University awarded him a Pellegrino Medal for achievement in medical ethics.[2] In 2011, he switched from teaching in the medical school to chairing the UAB Department of Philosophy, which he did from 2012 to 2018, after which he continued to be a professor in the department. In 1995, he began to direct, and continues to direct now, UAB's EMSAP (Early Medical School Acceptance Program).[1][3][4]
His well-known work defending human cloning has labeled him as a rebel in the scientific community.[5][6] Some critics, especially GreenPeace of Europe, consider him an apologist for the safety of GM foods.[7] As displayed in his many books on human cloning (Who's Afraid of Cloning, etc.), he is one of the few bioethicists who believes that
human cloning should not be banned but rather accepted in modern society as a future tool for creating wanted children. In 2001, Pence testified before the US Congress against a bill that would have criminalized all aspects of human cloning.[8] His many books, and over 70 op-ed essays, explain his views about assisted reproduction, human cloning, and various topics in bioethics.[9]
In 2015, he was invited to write for "American National Biography" the official biography of agricultural pioneer
Norman Borlaug, a strong defender of
genetically modified food.[10]
His textbook, Medical Ethics,[11] one of the field's standards, was 28 years old in 2018 in its 8th edition[12] and will be in its 9th edition in 2020. At UAB, he won major teaching awards, including the Ingall's and President's.[13] He coached the UAB team that in 2010 won the national championship of the Intercollegiate
Ethics Bowl.,[14] and UAB teams that won the national championship of the
Bioethics Bowl in 2011 at Duke University,[15] in 2015 at Florida State University.[16] and in 2019 at the
University of South Alabama.
His 2002 and 2020 tradebooks Designer Food and Overcoming Addiction were named Outstanding Academic Books by
CHOICE magazine.[17] In 2019, his university awarded him its Ireland Award for Scholarly Distinction.[18]
What We Talk About When We Talk About Clone Club: Bioethics and Philosophy in Orphan Black. Dallas, Texas:
BenBella Books. 2016.
ISBN978-1-942952-34-3.