UNIT 9 - Ethics in Science and Technology

What are ethics and morality - what role do they play in science and technology

• Definition by Pete Singer

  • morality and ethics require us to make judgments from a universal perspective, they guide us

• Morality - principals of right and wrong

• is rarely completely objective because it depends on people’s backgrounds, cultures, values, and beliefs.

• helps us decide if progress is good or harmful for everyone by guiding us toward better policies and choices.

• For example, the issue of accessing a state database with genetic information raises concerns about privacy and discrimination, showing the importance of laws to protect data

• ethics is the set of moral principles that guide us to our choices

How do values feature in the field of Science?

• researches consistently make choices and judgments as they seek better understanding of complex issues

• Values like objectivity, honesty, fairness, and respect are essential in science.

• fraud and data fabrication should be avoided as it undermines the integrity and credibility of the study

Formulating and evaluation new hypotheses

• when proposing a scientific hypotheses they asses to make sure theories from different fields don’t conflict

• ideally these ideas would exhibit a degree of uniformity in their observations - simplicity, elegance and harmony are important traits

• They prefer hypotheses that work well and can apply to different areas.

• However, social and personal values, like religious or political beliefs, can also influence scientific decisions.

  • religious beliefs might influence decisions about stem cell research, with some opposing it due to views on the sanctity of life

Conducting experiments and documenting observations

• scientists opt for quantitative methods as they are more accurate, reliability and can be easily tested

• minimize bias - along with random sampling and statistics

• double blind method - a research approach used in experiments, particularly in clinical trials, to eliminate bias. Neither the participants nor the researchers know who is receiving the treatment or a placebo.

Communicating and publishing findings

• avoiding plagiarism, peer review are all important values in publishing research

• researchers are responsible for reporting authentic results without withholding information

• peer review is important as it ensures the data is ethically sound - no falsifications of data, no interference of religious beliefs, they are consistent, accurate verifiable and reliable

Why do we need Research Ethics?

• laboratory animals and human subjects used in research must be treated well

• protocols exist to review research proposals which involve human subjects etc.

• this ensures proper care for lab animals

• scientific misconduct while rare does still happen, hence why it is important that the scientific community employs the scientific method, peer review and ethical guidelines to enhance the reliability of research

How does Science shape societal values?

• Advancements in science and technology impact society, hence debates are raised about the consequences of such advancements

• Bioethics - field which addresses the ethical implications of biological research and medical applications

• scientists are ethical agents which are accountable for their actions negative and positive

• not expected to solve all moral dilemmas as they are subjective and evolve over time

• The link between morality, science, and technology requires continuous assessment by all parties involved. Working together across disciplines helps shape policies that focus on benefiting others and using scientific advancements responsibly. Incorporating ethics and social responsibility into scientific education is vital, as science cannot thrive without a foundation of values.