Friday, May 18, 2012

ETHICAL ISSUES IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Introduction :

The meaning of ethics -  related to main concepts such as good, right, values, obligation, freedom, rationality and choice  (generally amount the same thing as morality of people - the difference is not always clear)

Various kinds of ethics - eg medical ethics, legal ethics, business ethics, political ethics, social ethics,  
                                      science, engineering and technological ethics, computer/ICT ethics etc.

Science, engineering and technological ethics : 2 dimensions

Ethics in science, engineering and technology - refer to the practices of scientist,engineers and technologists  
                                                                      eg honesty, integrity

Ethics of science, engineering and technology - refer to the relation/impact/contribution of scientists,            
                                                                        engineers
                                                                        and technologists  to the society
                                                                        ie improving quality of life, productivity (agricultural,
                                                                        manufacturing etc),
                                                                        economic growth, services  etc
                                                                        - health, safety, environment, green technology, sustainability
                                                                        /re-cyclying etc

Ethical issues and dilemmas/controversial issues related to the development of science and technology
(some examples)

1. risks and benefits - a question of balance? eg drugs, nuclear energy,chemicals etc
2. economic (eg industrial development) - air pollution, water pollution, hazardous wastes etc
3. ICT development - information safety, privacy, piracy etc
4. social issues - poor and rich, availability, rural and urban, exploitation etc
5. political issues - under developed and developed countries-  globalization, military, war etc
6. natural resources (fossil resources eg oil, gas, coal ) - present consumption and future needs (vis- a- vis population growth).
                                                                         












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