Ethics

What are ethics?

Principles guiding right and wrong behavior, ensuring fairness, respect, and accountability.

Ethics in anthropology

Emphasizes informed consent, cultural respect, avoiding harm, protecting privacy, and giving back to studied communities.

Origins of morals

Linked to 'mores' or customs (Latin).

Origins of ethics

Derived from 'ethos' (Greek), meaning character.

Do no harm principle

Ethical principle that fieldworkers must take responsibility for the consequences of their work.

Informed consent

The voluntary agreement obtained from participants with awareness of relevant aspects of research.

Fieldworker responsibility

Awareness of potential consequences for collaborators and the community.

Interpreter vs. informant

'Interpreter' suggests ongoing conversation, while 'informant' may have legal connotations.

Non-maleficence

Ethical obligation to avoid causing harm.

Darkness in El Dorado

Book by Patrick Tierney alleging researchers harmed the Yanomami tribe.

Advocacy anthropology

Field where anthropologists actively advocate for the communities they study.

Opposition to advocacy anthropology

Criticism that advocates undermine the primary role of anthropologists as objective researchers.

Ethnocentrism

The belief that one's own culture is superior to others.

Armchair speculation

Theorizing about cultures without firsthand observation or fieldwork.

Teleological view

The belief that cultural evolution progresses in a predetermined way, often towards an ideal state.

Informed consent history

Instituted in response to unethical medical experiments during WWII.

Nuremberg Code

Set of ethical principles for human subject research emphasizing voluntary consent.

Human Terrain System

US military program placing social scientists with military units to gather local insights.

Meaningful consent

The concept that subjects must genuinely agree to participate in research without coercion.

Deception in covert research

When researchers hide their identity and purpose, creating ethical dilemmas.

Exploitation and danger

Ethical concerns regarding researchers condoning illegal activities for the sake of research.

Ethics of military involvement

Anthropologists face ethical challenges when collaborating with military forces.

Confidentiality and privacy

Ensuring participant identities are protected during research.

Anthropology + Military

Anthropologists question ethical grounds for collaboration with military efforts.

Photography ethics in anthropology

The need for overt research practices to prevent compromising participant identities.

A macaque's copyright case

Legal dispute over a macaque taking selfies demonstrating complex ethical questions.

Mosse Study Overview

A case highlighting potential biases in ethnographic research.

Intellectual property rights

Interviewees retain rights over the content derived from their discussions.

Navigating traditional knowledge

Understanding the responsibility towards indigenous skills and practices.

Museum anthropology

Engagement and ethical dilemmas surrounding the display of human remains.

Return of G’psgolox Pole

Documentary on the Haisla people's efforts to reclaim their cultural heritage.

Complexity of repatriation

Variability in community voices and legal concerns impacting repatriation.

Tsantsas

Shrunken heads made by the Shuar and Achuar peoples, embodying cultural significance.

Role of anthropologists

Facilitate dialogue and understanding around repatriation and cultural justice.

Repatriation process

The return of cultural artifacts to indigenous communities.

Cultural appropriation

The unethical adoption of elements from one culture by another, especially by those in power.

Scientific specimens vs. ancestors

Human remains should be treated with respect, acknowledging their cultural significance.

Symbolic anthropology

The study that emphasizes the cultural meanings behind artifacts rather than their scientific value.

AAA Code of Ethics

Guidelines for anthropologists emphasizing respect and protection of communities.

Decolonizing museum narratives

Shifting perspectives in museums to honor indigenous cultures and their artifacts.

The Mapuche's repatriation request

Demand for return of ancestral remains highlighted the importance of cultural significance.

Ethical responsibilities of anthropologists

To advocate for the return of remains and to support indigenous-led claims.

Public education on museum collections

Educating visitors about historical contexts and ethical considerations in anthropological practices.

Respect for Human Remains

The ethical obligation to treat human remains with dignity and reverence, recognizing their cultural, historical, and spiritual significance.

TASMANIANS CASE STUDY

A research case focusing on the social, cultural, and ethical implications of anthropological studies on the Tasmanian Aboriginal people, particularly in relation to the impacts of colonialism and repatriation efforts.

The G’psgolox Pole

A significant cultural artifact belonging to the Haisla people, symbolizing their struggle for the return of their cultural heritage and identity.

What is a collaborator in anthropology?

A collaborator is an individual or group that works alongside anthropologists in research, often providing insights and perspectives from their cultural context.

What is an interlocutor in anthropology?

An interlocutor is a conversation partner or participant in a dialogue, particularly in research settings where the anthropologist engages with individuals from the studied community.

Non-maleficence

An ethical principle requiring that one must not cause harm, ensuring that actions do not lead to adverse effects, particularly in research and professional

Etymological Roots of Ethics

The word 'ethics' is derived from the Greek word 'ethos,' which means character, reflecting the moral principles and values that define individual or group behavior.