Sci Eng Ethics. 2014 Feb 9. [Epub ahead of print]
Ethics in the Minutiae: Examining the Role of the Physical Laboratory Environment in Ethical Discourse.
Author information
- Department of Sociology, Philosophy and Anthropology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK, loubez@gmail.com.
Abstract
Responsibility
within life science research is a highly scrutinised field.
Increasingly, scientists are presented with a range of duties and
expectations regarding their conduct within the research setting. In
many cases, these duties are presented deontologically, forgoing
extensive discussion on how these are practically implemented into the
minutiae of daily research practices. This de-contextualized duty has
proven problematic when it comes to practical issues of compliance,
however it is not often considered as a fundamental aspect of building
ethics discourse. This paper examines this issue in detail, particularly
focusing on how differences in the contrasts between the ideal and real
physical research environments cause conceptual problems for scientists
and retard ethical
engagement. Such issues are particularly pertinent in low- and
middle-income countries. This paper combines theoretical and empirical
analyses using the concept of "dual-use" as a focalizing topic. The data
show that the research environment acts as an intimate component in the
interpretation and implementation of ethical actions.
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