There is universally shared There is universally shared criterion for deciding when a conflict of criterion for deciding when a conflict of values falls within the province of values falls within the province of ethics rather than say, law.ethics rather than say, law.

In this chapter we will In this chapter we will characterized and analyze a nucharacterized and analyze a numbmber of er of important kinds of ethical important kinds of ethical issuesissues and and conflicts associated conflicts associated withwith contemporary contemporary science and technology.science and technology.

CLASSIFICATION OF ETHICAL CLASSIFICATION OF ETHICAL ISSUES AND CONFLICTSISSUES AND CONFLICTS

• The facts of the MatterThe facts of the Matter

• Affected patients and their interestAffected patients and their interest

• Key concepts, criteria and principlesKey concepts, criteria and principles

• Ethical theories and argEthical theories and argumentsuments

Violation of Established World Violation of Established World OrdersOrders

Invitro fertilization Invitro fertilization – involving the – involving the unnatural separation of human unnatural separation of human reproduction from sexual inter coursereproduction from sexual inter course

Transgenic Animals Transgenic Animals – viewed by some – viewed by some critics as a transgression of natural critics as a transgression of natural animal – species boundariesanimal – species boundaries

Deontological Ethical ArgumentsDeontological Ethical Arguments (2 (2 FormsForms

1) Intervention – free order of nature1) Intervention – free order of nature

- Natural and intrinsically“good”- Natural and intrinsically“good”

2) Technology – not viewed as part of 2) Technology – not viewed as part of the natural order but rather as artificial.the natural order but rather as artificial.

• Something has existed or has been Something has existed or has been done in the so called natural way from done in the so called natural way from time immemorial and concludes time immemorial and concludes thatthat therefore it should be done or therefore it should be done or continues to be done in that scontinues to be done in that same way ame way without technological intervention.without technological intervention.

Violation of Supposedly Violation of Supposedly Exceptionless Moral PrinciplesExceptionless Moral Principles

Other ethical issues arise from the Other ethical issues arise from the fact that the use, failure to use, a fact that the use, failure to use, a withdrawal of particular scientific withdrawal of particular scientific procedures or items of that adherents procedures or items of that adherents believe to be exceptionless.believe to be exceptionless.

Examples: Examples:

- Use of Nuclear weapons in war- Use of Nuclear weapons in war

- “Harvesting” of fetal tissue for use in - “Harvesting” of fetal tissue for use in treating Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s treating Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.disease.

Distribution of Science or technology Distribution of Science or technology Related Benefits Related Benefits

The fact that the benefits of The fact that the benefits of development in science and technology development in science and technology are allocated in ways that do not seem are allocated in ways that do not seem equitable to one or another social groupequitable to one or another social group..

Infliction of Harm or Exposure to Infliction of Harm or Exposure to Significant Risk of Harm without Prior Significant Risk of Harm without Prior

Consent Consent

Ethical issues and conflicts engendered Ethical issues and conflicts engendered by developments in science and technology by developments in science and technology arises from activities that while undertaken arises from activities that while undertaken to benefit one group, to benefit one group, inflict inflict harm or impose harm or impose significant risk of significant risk of harm on harm on another without another without the latter’s prior the latter’s prior consentconsent..

Science or Technology – precipitated Science or Technology – precipitated value conflictsvalue conflicts

• Genetic test – allowing those with access Genetic test – allowing those with access their result to know something of a sensitive their result to know something of a sensitive nature about the health-related state or nature about the health-related state or genetic predisposition of the person tested genetic predisposition of the person tested have proliferated.have proliferated.

TEST FOR VARIOUS GENETIC DISORDERTEST FOR VARIOUS GENETIC DISORDER

- Down Syndrome - Down Syndrome - Tay Sachs- Tay Sachs Disease Disease

- Sickle Cell Anemia- Sickle Cell Anemia

Science or Technology – engendered Science or Technology – engendered “Positive” Rights“Positive” Rights

In the modern era, “human rights” is In the modern era, “human rights” is irrevocable entitlements that people irrevocable entitlements that people supposedly have simply because they are supposedly have simply because they are human beings. The recognized human human beings. The recognized human rights are “life” and “liberty”.rights are “life” and “liberty”.

Public Harm of AggregationPublic Harm of Aggregation

Large number of people doing the Large number of people doing the same thing is that substantial harm is same thing is that substantial harm is done to the environment.done to the environment.

Practitioner ProblemsPractitioner Problems

They are ethical problems associated They are ethical problems associated with the concrete processes and practices with the concrete processes and practices of scientific and technological activity.of scientific and technological activity.

Problems of Execution: Edward Problems of Execution: Edward WWenk enk has identified “3 Kinds of Ethical has identified “3 Kinds of Ethical Issues” faced practicing in their work.Issues” faced practicing in their work.

1) Distributive Justice1) Distributive Justice

To exposed people to a non-trivial To exposed people to a non-trivial degree of risk to their safety, health or degree of risk to their safety, health or property without their consent.property without their consent.

2) Whistle Blowing2) Whistle Blowing

May become aware of deliberate May become aware of deliberate actions or negligence on the part actions or negligence on the part colleagues or employees that seem colleagues or employees that seem to to them them to pose a threat to a threat to to pose a threat to a threat to some some component of the public interest.component of the public interest.

3) Consideration of Long Term Effects3) Consideration of Long Term Effects

An engineer in daily practices An engineer in daily practices involves “managing the future” has a involves “managing the future” has a tendency to focus designing, producing or tendency to focus designing, producing or installing “hardware” without adequately installing “hardware” without adequately anticipating longer term effects.anticipating longer term effects.

Problems of CommunicationProblems of Communication1)1)Fraud Fraud

- Falsification of scientific data- Falsification of scientific data

- Base on June Price Tangue Surveys, - Base on June Price Tangue Surveys, 85% believe that fraud is not common 85% believe that fraud is not common 32% suspected their colleagues in 32% suspected their colleagues in falsifying data. falsifying data.

Major Motivations for Fraud:Major Motivations for Fraud:Desire for fame and recognition Desire for fame and recognition (56%)(56%)Job security and promotion (31%)Job security and promotion (31%)

Belief in or wish to promote a theory Belief in or wish to promote a theory (31%)(31%)

Laziness (15%)Laziness (15%)

2) Misrepresentation 2) Misrepresentation

- false presentation of findings- false presentation of findings

- unprofessional and unethical - unprofessional and unethical

Example:Example:

misrepresentation of the activities misrepresentation of the activities thatthat has been accomplished.has been accomplished.

Qualified Neo–consequentalism Qualified Neo–consequentalism

ethical theory and judgment about ethical theory and judgment about actions, practices and policies and their actions, practices and policies and their likely consequences that are accepted.likely consequences that are accepted.

Qualities:Qualities:

• Focused on harm and well-beingFocused on harm and well-being

• RefinedRefined

• ComprehensiveComprehensive

• DiscriminatingDiscriminating

• PrudentPrudent