Biosecurity and Research Bioethics Lecture 1 - Introduction

Biosecurity and Research Bioethics [APBI304] Introduction to Biosecurity and Bioethics By Dr. Mariam Gamaleldin Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology  02 What is biosecurity? Bios...

Biosecurity and Research Bioethics [APBI304] Introduction to Biosecurity and Bioethics By Dr. Mariam Gamaleldin Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology  02 What is biosecurity? Biosecurity is a broad and integrated strategy that sets frameworks for policy, regulation, tools, and activities for analyzing and controlling pertinent hazards to human, animal, plant life, and the environment. APBI304 Why is biosecurity important? 1. Some biological agents are naturally dangerous and need to be dealt with carefully. They can be used for biological warfare and bioterrorism. (e.g., 2001 Anthrax Attacks) APBI304  Why is biosecurity important? (cont.) 2. Introducing new genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) through scientific research can threaten species diversity (biodiversity) and damage the environment. 3. There is an impending food scarcity due to population growth, industrial expansion, and soil erosion. 4. Agricultural practices are changing, which can be beneficial but might also threaten to undermine human health, animal health and the environment. APBI304  02 What is bioethics? It is a branch of ethics that focuses on the social, moral, and legal problems that result from the investigation and use of life sciences and medical research. APBI304  Why is bioethics important? 1. To defend the dignity and identity of all human beings regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or socioeconomic status. 2. Guarantee everyone respect for their integrity and other rights and basic freedom with regard to the uses of biology and medicine. (Human Rights and Biomedicine Convention, 1997) 3. Ensure that moral standards advance at the same pace as biological technology. APBI304  Example showing why bioethics is important: § Baby Jaxon was born missing most of his brain. § How did his parents decide if the pregnancy should be kept? (Bioethics) § What if baby Jaxon was born unconscious? Can his parents decide to end his life support and donate his organs to other babies? (Bioethics) APBI304 Bioethics is based on morality What is morality? Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy defines morality as: “a code of conduct that, given specified conditions, would be put forward by all rational people.” What is the minimum basis of morality? 1. Using reason/logic to direct our own behavior 2. Acting in the best interests of other people while also considering one's own interests. APBI304 Morality is based on reasoning What are the types of reasoning? 1. Consequentialist reasoning Weighing Benefits vs. harms of an action. E.g., Using insecticides is morally good, because some insects can be harmful to people. 2. Deontological reasoning Something is either ”inherently” good or “inherently” bad. E.g., Lying to my friends is bad even though lying will help me have fewer problems with my friends. APBI304  Ø Schools of moral theory: Based on the manner of reasoning, different schools of thought arrived at different ideas of what morality is and what it entails. This is known as moral theory. The schools of moral theory include: APBI304  1. Social Contract Theory: The Prisoner’s Dilemma Prisoner A Prisoner A Prisoner B Remain Confess silent Confess 0 years Prisoner B 5 years 5 years 10 years Remain silent 0 years 10 years 1 year 1 year The Prisoner’s Dilemma is an example from Game Theory that showcases reasons why people may not choose to act in each other’s favor. APBI304  What does the prisoner‘s dilemma teach us about morality options? Option 1: You do NOT care about other people‘s interests while other people care about your interests. In that case, you are a „free rider“. Option 2: You do NOT care about other people‘s interests while other people also do NOT care about your interests. That case is called “the state of nature“, where everyone is selfish. It is a very dangerous situation. Option 3: You care about other people‘s interests while other people care about your interests. This case is an example of “ordinary morality“. Option 4: You care about other people‘s interests while other people do NOT care about your interests. This case is called “the sucker‘s payoff“. The best option for society is option 3, which is what the social contract theory is based on. APBI304 - The Prisoner’s Dilemma in real life: Some TV shows have mimicked the Prisoner’s Dilemma. The Golden Balls show is an example: APBI304  In the Golden Balls show, the two players have several options: 1. They both choose the "split" ball, which means they share the prize money equally. 2. They both choose the ball that reads "steal" thus none of them receives any money. 3. One of them chooses "split" and the other chooses "steal”. One of them will thus win the entire pot and the other would receive nothing. APBI304  1. Social contract theory: q Was developed by Genevan philosopher and author Jean-Jacque Rosseau. q Argues that morality is a set of guidelines that we adhere to, provided that other people do the same. q Asserts that morality is independent of religion and altruism. q Asserts that others must abide by moral standards since NOT doing so will subject them to legal punishment. APBI304  1. Social contract theory (cont.): q Enables people to become benevolent, because they are NOT endangered by the „state of nature“, where they can always be robbed or killed. q Believes that the goal of morality is to establish a cooperative social order, where everyone can flourish. APBI304  2. Utilitarianism q The theory was coined by Jeremy Bentham, an English economist, and philosopher. q Utilitarianism states that “The creed which accepts…the Greatest Happiness Principle…holds that actions are right…as they tend to promote happiness, wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness.” - John Stuart Mill APBI304  2. Utilitarianism (cont.) q According to utilitarianism, morality ought to be determined by what makes the majority of people happy. q Utilitarianism rejects conventional moral principles and religious beliefs, much like Social Contract Theory. APBI304  2. Utilitarianism (cont.) According to the video below, what are the limitations of utilitarianism? (List 2 limitations. Submit the next lecture as a piece of paper for 0.5 mark) APBI304  3. Kantian theory § Named after the German philosopher, Immanuel Kant. § Kant believed that: 1. Morality should be guided by reason. 2. Actions should be judged by their moral intention. 3. Moral actions should be guided by an obligation (instead of desire) to do what is right. 4. People should not be used as a means to an end. (No exploitation) 5. Moral laws should be universalizable. 6. People should freely choose (with reason) to follow the universal moral obligations. (Example is on next slide) APBI304  3. Kantian theory (cont.) Example: Employer warns employee that the work they do at the factory can be dangerous to their health. According to Kant: Be careful! You can get lead poisoning § Immoral action: from working here ”I warn the employee, because if I don’t warn them they may sue me.” § Moral action: “I warn the employee, because it is my Employee obligation to warn them.” Employer APBI304  3. Kantian theory Example: the Shopkeeper’s Action A: Yes, the shopkeeper’s action has moral worth B: No, the shopkeeper’s action does not have moral worth APBI304  4. Rights theory § All previous theories focus on moral obligations, but Rights theory focuses on rights. APBI304  4. Rights theory: Types of rights 1. Positive rights The right to obtain/receive something from others. E.g., the right to food, the right to healthcare,. etc. 2. Negative rights The right to be free from some interferences by others. E.g., the right not to be killed, the right to privacy, etc. APBI304  4. Rights theory: Correlation of rights and obligations § Here are some examples of basic rights and correlated basic obligations: - Rights and obligations Basic Right Basic Obligation The right not to be killed Do not kill are correlated with each The right to be told the truth Tell the truth other. The right not to have a Do not steal person’s own property - In other words, if stolen someone has a right then The right not to be punished Do not punish the innocent someone else has the when innocent obligation to fulfill that The right not to receive pain Do not inflict pain or harm or harm at the hands of on others right. others The right to have harm Prevent harm from prevented occurring APBI304 THANK YOU