Ethics in Science

Basic Principles

Galen Gisler, 2007

Physics of Geological Processes
University of Oslo
FYS-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 know
n We are good people and we make good decisions
n 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 know
n We are good people and we make good decisions
n Ethics is boring, anyway

n We need to study ethics!

n Science has a special role with respect to ethics
n Society demands high standards of scientists
n It is not always easy to determine the right thing to do
n Breaches of scientific ethics make headlines and ruin careers
n 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, Diligence
n Scientists should minimize errors as much as possible:
n experimental errors
n methodological or systematic errors
n 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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 Education
n 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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