Matthias Kaiser

 

 November 10, 2010

11 AM, auditorium 3-11: 

 

The ethical responsibility of researchers in times of risk society

  

The presentation raises the question whether we in our times need a new type of researcher, i.e. researchers who recognize their social responsibility. Many people have called for a new social contract of science, one that explicitly commits research to overall global societal goals like e.g. sustainable development. This amounts to an extension of the traditional ethics of science where not only the internal qualities of research, like truthfulness and proper recognition of other people’s research counts, but also the co-responsibility of science to prepare the ground for good societal decision-making is included. This is particularly relevant in our days where we have to recognize that the risks our society has to deal with are truly complex in nature. In Norway this move towards a more holistic ethics of science has resulted in new Ethical Guidelines, endorsed by the National Committee for Research Ethics in Science and Technology (NENT, cf. www.etikkom.no ).

 

References:

http://www.etikkom.no/Documents/English-publications/Guidelines%20for%20research%20ethics%20in%20science%20and%20technology%20%282008%29.pdf

http://www.etikkom.no/Documents/Publikasjoner-som-PDF/Risk%20and%20Uncertainty%20%282009%29.pdf