ethics in science basic principles - universitetet i oslo...n our parents (barnehage, school,...
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Ethics in ScienceBasic Principles
Galen Gisler, 2007Physics of Geological Processes
University of OsloFYS-GEO4100
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Major source:
David B. Resnick, The Ethics of Science: an
Introduction
Routledge 1998, ISBN 0-415-16698-5 (pbk)
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Why study ethics?
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Why study ethics?
n We don’t need to study ethics!n Our parents (barnehage, school, church) taught us all we
need to known We are good people and we make good decisionsn Ethics is boring, anyway
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Why study ethics?
n We don’t need to study ethics!n Our parents (barnehage, school, church) taught us all we
need to known We are good people and we make good decisionsn Ethics is boring, anyway
n We need to study ethics!n Science has a special role with respect to ethicsn Society demands high standards of scientistsn It is not always easy to determine the right thing to do n Breaches of scientific ethics make headlines and ruin careersn We’ll look at some case studies that are not boring
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Some cases of misconduct
n Pons & Fleischmann: cold fusion — publication by press release — wishful thinking — patents & money
n David Baltimore & Thereza Imanishi-Kari: immunology — falsification of data? or poor record keeping?
n Jon Sudbø & Andrew Dannenberg: cancer research —fabrication of data — exploitation of co-authors
n Hwang Woo-Suk: stem-cell research — fabrication of data —unethical treatment of subjects — misinterpretation of data — nationalist pride
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There are different categories of ethics.
n Personal Ethics: Morality
n Professional Ethics: Standards & Expectations
n Societal Ethics: Law
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Ethical standards sometimes conflict.
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Ethical standards sometimes conflict.
n The question is not:
Should I do the right thing?
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Ethical standards sometimes conflict.
n The question is not:
Should I do the right thing?
n Rather, the question is:
What is the right thing to do?
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We need a framework for making ethical decisions.
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Let’s start with some basic principles.
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We all know the basics:
n Don’t harm others or yourself.
n Help others and yourself.
n Respect truth: don’t lie, cheat, deceive.
n Be faithful: keep promises and agreements.
n Be fair: treat equals equally.
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Societal ethics follow.
n Allow rational people to make free, informed choices.
n Respect privacy and confidentiality.
n Maximize benefits while reducing harms for all or most people.
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There are sources of ethical guidance.
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There are sources of ethical guidance.
n Religion
n Bible, Qur‘an, Tao Te Ching, …
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There are sources of ethical guidance.
n Religion
n Bible, Qur‘an, Tao Te Ching, …
n Philosophy
n Plato, Aristotle, Epictetus, Spinoza, Kant, …
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There are sources of ethical guidance.
n Religion
n Bible, Qur‘an, Tao Te Ching, …
n Philosophy
n Plato, Aristotle, Epictetus, Spinoza, Kant, …
n Literature
n Homer, Dante, Shakespeare, Khayyam, Ibsen, …
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But how do we really decide?
n Can I justify the choice?
n Can I live with it afterwards?
n Are there others who can advise me?
n Gut feelings?
Let’s examine our goals and objectives…
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What is science?
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What is science?
n The search for truth:A quest for objective knowledge about Nature.
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What is science?
n The search for truth:A quest for objective knowledge about Nature.
n A social institution:Serving society’s needs and improving people’s lives.Made up of people with human needs and desires.
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What is science?
n The search for truth:A quest for objective knowledge about Nature.
n A social institution:Serving society’s needs and improving people’s lives.Made up of people with human needs and desires.
n A profession:Involving training, standards, a career, respect, and privilege.
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Where is science done?
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Where is science done?
n At universities.
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Where is science done?
n At universities.
n In government labs or with government funding.
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Where is science done?
n At universities.
n In government labs or with government funding.
n In military labs or with military funding.
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Where is science done?
n At universities.
n In government labs or with government funding.
n In military labs or with military funding.
n In industry labs or with industry funding.
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Where is science done?
n At universities.
n In government labs or with government funding.
n In military labs or with military funding.
n In industry labs or with industry funding.
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Where is science done?
n At universities.
n In government labs or with government funding.
n In military labs or with military funding.
n In industry labs or with industry funding.
Different standards and goals apply under different circumstances.
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University Goals
n To advance knowledge.
n To educate students.
n To serve the public.
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Government Goals
n To serve national needs.
n To protect the nation’s people and property.
n To compete & cooperate with other nations.
n To foster global security.
n To advance knowledge.
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Industry Goals
n To serve the company’s (or general industry) needs.
n To increase the stockholders’ profits.
n To compete & cooperate with other companies.
n To increase opportunities in the global market.
n To advance knowledge.
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A scientist’s goals
n To discover truth or satisfy curiosity — the same thing.
n To advance knowledge.
n To become famous and well-respected.
n To get and keep a good job.
n To live well and happy.
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Some ethical conflicts
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Some ethical conflicts
n Truth versus employer’s (funder’s) desired outcome
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Some ethical conflicts
n Truth versus employer’s (funder’s) desired outcome
n Employer’s needs versus societal needs
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Some ethical conflicts
n Truth versus employer’s (funder’s) desired outcome
n Employer’s needs versus societal needs
n Need for advancement (funding, hiring, riches…) versus truth
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Some ethical conflicts
n Truth versus employer’s (funder’s) desired outcome
n Employer’s needs versus societal needs
n Need for advancement (funding, hiring, riches…) versus truth
n Truth and openness versus secrecy
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Some ethical conflicts
n Truth versus employer’s (funder’s) desired outcome
n Employer’s needs versus societal needs
n Need for advancement (funding, hiring, riches…) versus truth
n Truth and openness versus secrecy
n Cooperation versus competition
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Some ethical conflicts
n Truth versus employer’s (funder’s) desired outcome
n Employer’s needs versus societal needs
n Need for advancement (funding, hiring, riches…) versus truth
n Truth and openness versus secrecy
n Cooperation versus competition
n Conflicts of interest
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Some ethical conflicts
n Truth versus employer’s (funder’s) desired outcome
n Employer’s needs versus societal needs
n Need for advancement (funding, hiring, riches…) versus truth
n Truth and openness versus secrecy
n Cooperation versus competition
n Conflicts of interest
n Conflicts of commitment
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Standards of Ethical Conduct in Science
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Honesty
n Scientists should not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data or results.
n They should be objective, unbiased, and truthful in all aspects of the research process.
n They should not let wishful thinking or prior belief influence their judgment.
n “Belief is the wound that knowledge heals…” (Ursula Leguin, The Telling)
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Carefulness, Diligencen Scientists should minimize errors as much as possible:
n experimental errorsn methodological or systematic errorsn human errors
n They should make faithful estimates of the errors that remain.
n They should present results that are faithful to the data.
n They should avoid self-deception, bias, and conflicts of interest.
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Openness, Fairness
n Scientists should share data, results, methods, ideas, techniques, and tools.
n They should allow other scientists to review their work.
n They should publish papers and make presentations.
n They should be forthright with advice to the public.
n They should be open to criticism and new ideas.
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Respect, Credit, Efficiency
n Scientists should treat colleagues with respect.
n Credit should be given to those who deserve it …
n … but not to those who do not deserve it.
n Scientists should use resources efficiently and responsibly.
n Scientists should always write the best papers they can.
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Educationn Scientists should teach each other what they have learned in their
research.
n Scientists should educate prospective scientists and ensure that they learn how to conduct good science.
n Scientists should teach non-science students so as to build a foundation for the public’s understanding of science.
n Scientists should educate and inform the public about science.
n Scientists should speak to the media about their work, but be careful to avoid releasing ill-formed conclusions or misconceptions.
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Social Responsibility
n Scientists should avoid causing harm to society.
n Scientists should attempt to produce social benefits.
n Scientists should be responsible for the consequences of their research.
n Scientists should inform the public of those consequences, as completely as they can.
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Freedom and opportunity
n Scientists should be free to conduct research on any problem, subject to the constraint of responsible use of available resources.
n They should be free to pursue new ideas and criticize old ones.
n They should not be unfairly denied the opportunity to use scientific resources.
n They should not be unfairly denied career advancement.
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Legality; Property; Subjects
n Scientists should obey the laws pertaining to their work.
n Scientists should respect private property.
n Scientists should not violate rights or dignities of experimental subjects.
n Scientists should treat human or animal subjects with appropriate care and respect.
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Examples & Case Studies
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