Ethics in Life Sciences lecture notes
Lecture 1 Ethics as a design discipline
- Science, technology and innovation can help solve problems and be valuable in many
ways – but also cause new problems
- Ethics can be a good facilitator or even a driver of research, technology and
innovation for good
- This minimally requires prevention of future harm
- For this, theoretical knowledge and practical instruments for hand-on practice in
moral deliberation are very valuable
The direct and indirect, intended or unintended influences of scientists on the moral states
of others is large.
Science, technology and innovation shape society and vice versa.
Ethics is used as a design discipline.
- Societal needs and problems should be the starting point of science technology and
innovation
- Moral values should be placed at the heart of science, technology and innovation
- Ethics is all about translating values into actions, weighing ..
Possible values one can take into account when designing a car for instance:
- Speed
- Safety for driver
- Safety for other road users
- Aesthetics
- Sustainability
- Size
Ethics = the practical study of deciding how we ought to act.
- The branch of philosophy that deals with morality and values
Systematic reflection on morality (values norm, believes)
Providing reasons to justify our decision
The purpose of education is to learn how to think for yourself.- John Dewey
How to recognize a morally problematic issue?
Moral problems arise when the values, rights, interests and desires?
- Moral problems arise when the values, rights interests, desires of “another” are at
stake or harmed.
How do we recognize values, rights, interests and desires?
How do we define the other? Who is a proper subject of moral concern?
- Ethical reasoning is needed whenever we are confronted with a moral problem
What are values?
- Values refer to what is or is perceived as good
,‘ Values are (a) concepts or beliefs, (b) about desirable end states or behaviors, (c) that
transcend specific situations, (d) guide selection or evaluation of behavior and events and (e)
are ordered by relative importance’
- Values can be translated into norms
Intermediate step: conceptualization and analysis
- What do you mean with value such and such?
- Why is it valuable?
- How does it relate to other values?
- When or where is it relevant?
Specify! And tie in with context?
Moral spheres
- Morally problematic issues can be found more or less
anywhere
- In different contexts, different values are more pertinent
- And hence different norms guide our actions in different
situations
Ethics in personal sphere
- Value e.g.: loyalty
- Norm e.g.: ’One always helps one’s friends’
- Rules for your relations in your personal sphere, with family and friends
Ethics in business sphere
- Value e.g.: sustainability
- Norm e.g.: ‘one has to reduce waste and minimize energy usage’
- Value e.g.: human dignity & autonomy
- Norm e.g.: ‘Don’t use slave labor’
Rules for business identity
Ethics in the professional sphere:
- Values e.g.: integrity of animals, objectivity, disinterestedness
- Norm e.g.: ‘One always has to prevent conflicts of interest’
Rules for e.g. the scientific community
Ethics in public sphere
- Values e.g.: justice and equality
- Norms e.g.: ‘Thou shalt not kill’
Rules for a just society
What is a morally problematic issue?
“morally problematic”≠ “morally rejectable”
- morally problematic issues are everywhere where the values, rights, interests,
desires of another are at stake or harmed.
, Ethical thinking
= thinking beyond one’s inclinations and prejudices
You need an open mind and critical reasoning skills.
- Ethics concerns some of the hardest and most complex choices we have to make
- Feeling engages us in a moral problem
- Critical reflection challenges feelings, enables understanding
Localize the problem: personal, professional, business or public sphere
Consider everything that’s relevant
o Values, rights, interests, desires and corresponding actors;
o Actions- and their potential consequences
o Moral principles
Ethical thinking critical reasoning, balancing arguments
Define the problem apply reason formulate judgement
Three families if ethical reasoning:
Family names:
- Consequentialism (or utilitarianism)
Measure of moral quality: Desired states
Core concepts: Benefits vs costs
Examples:
o Happiness
o Wellbeing
o Pleasure
o Fulfillment
- Deontology (or duty ethics)
Measure of moral quality: Right actions
Core concepts: Principles
Examples:
o Respect for dignity
o Fairness
o Justice
o Equality
- Virtue ethics:
Measure of moral quality: Virtue (deugdzaamheid)
Core concepts: Character
Examples:
o Responsibility
o Charitability
o Honesty
o Loyalty
Recap:
- Ethics is the practical study of deciding how we ought to act
- We have to engage in ethical reflection when the values, rights, interests, desires of
“an other” are at stake or harmed
- Almost anything can be a morally pertinent “other”
- Ethical reasoning requires an open mind and critical reasoning skills
Lecture 1 Ethics as a design discipline
- Science, technology and innovation can help solve problems and be valuable in many
ways – but also cause new problems
- Ethics can be a good facilitator or even a driver of research, technology and
innovation for good
- This minimally requires prevention of future harm
- For this, theoretical knowledge and practical instruments for hand-on practice in
moral deliberation are very valuable
The direct and indirect, intended or unintended influences of scientists on the moral states
of others is large.
Science, technology and innovation shape society and vice versa.
Ethics is used as a design discipline.
- Societal needs and problems should be the starting point of science technology and
innovation
- Moral values should be placed at the heart of science, technology and innovation
- Ethics is all about translating values into actions, weighing ..
Possible values one can take into account when designing a car for instance:
- Speed
- Safety for driver
- Safety for other road users
- Aesthetics
- Sustainability
- Size
Ethics = the practical study of deciding how we ought to act.
- The branch of philosophy that deals with morality and values
Systematic reflection on morality (values norm, believes)
Providing reasons to justify our decision
The purpose of education is to learn how to think for yourself.- John Dewey
How to recognize a morally problematic issue?
Moral problems arise when the values, rights, interests and desires?
- Moral problems arise when the values, rights interests, desires of “another” are at
stake or harmed.
How do we recognize values, rights, interests and desires?
How do we define the other? Who is a proper subject of moral concern?
- Ethical reasoning is needed whenever we are confronted with a moral problem
What are values?
- Values refer to what is or is perceived as good
,‘ Values are (a) concepts or beliefs, (b) about desirable end states or behaviors, (c) that
transcend specific situations, (d) guide selection or evaluation of behavior and events and (e)
are ordered by relative importance’
- Values can be translated into norms
Intermediate step: conceptualization and analysis
- What do you mean with value such and such?
- Why is it valuable?
- How does it relate to other values?
- When or where is it relevant?
Specify! And tie in with context?
Moral spheres
- Morally problematic issues can be found more or less
anywhere
- In different contexts, different values are more pertinent
- And hence different norms guide our actions in different
situations
Ethics in personal sphere
- Value e.g.: loyalty
- Norm e.g.: ’One always helps one’s friends’
- Rules for your relations in your personal sphere, with family and friends
Ethics in business sphere
- Value e.g.: sustainability
- Norm e.g.: ‘one has to reduce waste and minimize energy usage’
- Value e.g.: human dignity & autonomy
- Norm e.g.: ‘Don’t use slave labor’
Rules for business identity
Ethics in the professional sphere:
- Values e.g.: integrity of animals, objectivity, disinterestedness
- Norm e.g.: ‘One always has to prevent conflicts of interest’
Rules for e.g. the scientific community
Ethics in public sphere
- Values e.g.: justice and equality
- Norms e.g.: ‘Thou shalt not kill’
Rules for a just society
What is a morally problematic issue?
“morally problematic”≠ “morally rejectable”
- morally problematic issues are everywhere where the values, rights, interests,
desires of another are at stake or harmed.
, Ethical thinking
= thinking beyond one’s inclinations and prejudices
You need an open mind and critical reasoning skills.
- Ethics concerns some of the hardest and most complex choices we have to make
- Feeling engages us in a moral problem
- Critical reflection challenges feelings, enables understanding
Localize the problem: personal, professional, business or public sphere
Consider everything that’s relevant
o Values, rights, interests, desires and corresponding actors;
o Actions- and their potential consequences
o Moral principles
Ethical thinking critical reasoning, balancing arguments
Define the problem apply reason formulate judgement
Three families if ethical reasoning:
Family names:
- Consequentialism (or utilitarianism)
Measure of moral quality: Desired states
Core concepts: Benefits vs costs
Examples:
o Happiness
o Wellbeing
o Pleasure
o Fulfillment
- Deontology (or duty ethics)
Measure of moral quality: Right actions
Core concepts: Principles
Examples:
o Respect for dignity
o Fairness
o Justice
o Equality
- Virtue ethics:
Measure of moral quality: Virtue (deugdzaamheid)
Core concepts: Character
Examples:
o Responsibility
o Charitability
o Honesty
o Loyalty
Recap:
- Ethics is the practical study of deciding how we ought to act
- We have to engage in ethical reflection when the values, rights, interests, desires of
“an other” are at stake or harmed
- Almost anything can be a morally pertinent “other”
- Ethical reasoning requires an open mind and critical reasoning skills
