| Front | Back | | --- | --- | | How does Hans Jonas argue that modern technology has changed ethical obligation, and what is his "imperative of responsibility"? | Jonas argues modern technology has long-term, irreversible, and global consequences, unlike traditional ethics which dealt with localized actions. His imperative requires a new ethics that accounts for these far-reaching future impacts. | | Why does the case of He Jiankui's CRISPR gene editing of embryos illustrate Hans Jonas's ethical concerns? | The genetic modifications are germline changes, meaning any unintended mutations are irreversible and will be inherited by all future descendants, creating unknowable long-term harms. | | What is Robert Merton's norm of "disinterestedness," and why do critics argue it is insufficient as a moral standard for scientists? | Disinterestedness means pursuing knowledge without personal gain. Critics argue it is insufficient because a scientist can lack personal bias yet still be morally culpable for ignoring the harmful applications of their research. | | How can Kant's categorical imperative be used to argue against the unlimited pursuit of scientific knowledge? | The maxim "pursue all knowledge regardless of consequences" cannot be universalized, as researching certain technologies (like biological weapons) could make human life impossible. | | How does J.S. Mill's harm principle apply to scientific inquiry, and what difficulty arises when applying it to gain-of-function pathogen research? | Mill's principle states scientific freedom should be limited if it poses a clear risk of harm to others. The difficulty is that both sides disagree on which harm is more likely and severe (accidental pandemic vs. lack of preparedness). | | What is the precautionary principle in scientific policy, and what is its primary objection? | It states that if an action risks serious or irreversible harm, lack of scientific certainty should not delay preventive measures. The main objection is that applying it too broadly prevents highly beneficial research (e.g., drought-resistant crops). | | Compare how the European Union and the United States differ in their ethical approach to regulating Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). |

The EU applies the precautionary principle, requiring extensive safety testing first.
The US applies substantial equivalence, presuming safety if the GMO is chemically similar to conventional crops.

| | What historical study led to the Belmont Report (1979), and what are the report's three core ethical principles? | It was prompted by the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. Its three principles are:

Respect for persons
Beneficence
Justice

| | How does Peter Singer's utilitarian framework evaluate the ethics of animal experimentation? | It balances expected benefits against the suffering caused, holding that a subject's capacity for suffering (sentience), rather than their species, determines their moral weight. | | What is "big science," and what historical project serves as its prototype? | Big science refers to large-scale, heavily funded research requiring massive institutional and international collaboration. Its prototype is the Manhattan Project. | | How does Thomas Kuhn's theory of paradigm shifts suggest that "big science" might actually hinder scientific progress? | The massive financial and institutional investments in big science create pressure to work within the existing paradigm, making it highly resistant to revolutionary, paradigm-challenging ideas. | | Why would Paul Feyerabend be skeptical of "big science" based on his democratic vision of science? | He argued that concentrating resources in large institutions favors conventional, mainstream approaches, effectively silencing unconventional ideas and placing science under the control of a specialist elite. | | How does a virtue ethics approach to scientific responsibility differ from deontological or consequentialist approaches? | Instead of focusing on rules or outcomes, it evaluates the character traits (such as intellectual honesty, humility, and moral courage) that a responsible scientist should cultivate. | | What is Philip Kitcher's model of "well-ordered science," and what is its primary goal? | A model where research priorities are decided through ideal democratic deliberation involving all members of society. Its goal is to balance scientific freedom with democratic accountability. | | What real-world policy process serves as an approximation of Philip Kitcher's model of well-ordered science? | The Oregon Health Plan of the early 1990s, where public hearings allowed citizens to help prioritize which treatments the state's Medicaid funds would cover. | | The precautionary principle shifts the burden of proof onto those who wish to proceed with potentially harmful activities, while the US concept of substantial equivalence presumes safety unless harm is proven. | The precautionary principle shifts the burden of proof onto those who wish to proceed with potentially harmful activities, while the US concept of substantial equivalence presumes safety unless harm is proven. | | Established by the Nuremberg Code (1947), informed consent is a foundational principle requiring that research participants voluntarily agree to take part after being fully informed of risks. | Established by the Nuremberg Code (1947), informed consent is a foundational principle requiring that research participants voluntarily agree to take part after being fully informed of risks. | | Hans Jonas argued in *The Imperative of Responsibility* that modern technology requires a new ethics due to its irreversible and long-term effects. | Hans Jonas argued in *The Imperative of Responsibility* that modern technology requires a new ethics due to its irreversible and long-term effects. | | In contrast to Oppenheimer's eventual opposition to the hydrogen bomb, Edward Teller aggressively lobbied for its development, illustrating a key contrast in scientific virtue ethics. | In contrast to Oppenheimer's eventual opposition to the hydrogen bomb, Edward Teller aggressively lobbied for its development, illustrating a key contrast in scientific virtue ethics. |

IB Philosophy 6.3.3 Implications of Science Flashcards

1. Being human6 subtopics

2. Aesthetics3 subtopics

3. Epistemology3 subtopics

4. Ethics3 subtopics

5. Philosophy of religion3 subtopics

6. Philosophy of science3 subtopics

7. Political philosophy3 subtopics

8. Social philosophy3 subtopics

9. HL extension: Philosophy and contemporary issues3 subtopics

10. Prescribed philosophical texts12 subtopics