How to Make People Follow COVID-19 Restrictions Without Appealing to Fear
Making people fear the coronavirus may motivate us to wash our hands, keep our distance and wear a face mask. But fear also takes a…
Ethics
Why COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Methods Fall Short + 3 Ways to Improve Them
Several proposals have emerged on how to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine, but they fall short in ensuring that the vaccine is distributed fairly. A team…
Conservation Paradox: The Pros and Cons of Recreational / Trophy Hunting
Recreational hunting — especially hunting of charismatic species for their trophies — raises ethical and moral concerns. Yet recreational hunting is frequently suggested as a…
When Good Governments Go Bad: History Shows That Societies Collapse When Leaders Undermine Social Contracts
All good things must come to an end. Whether societies are ruled by ruthless dictators or more well-meaning representatives, they fall apart in time, with…
Genetically Engineered Organisms: Path Set for Field Trials of Gene Drive Organisms
As genetically engineered organisms ramp up, a multidisciplinary coalition offers a framework for ethical, socially engaged and transparent field practices. The modern rise of gene…
Ethics Questions on Human Challenge Trials for COVID-19 Vaccines
A Rutgers philosopher examines the ethical questions around human challenge trials for COVID-19 vaccines. The first human challenge trial to test COVID-19 treatments and vaccines…
Zoonosis Threat: Urgent Call for More Effective Wildlife Trade Legislation in Wake of COVID-19
International research team including Göttingen University makes urgent call for more effective wildlife trade legislation. Many diseases, such as COVID-19, have made the jump from…
Seeing Is No Longer Believing: The Manipulation of Online Images
Online images are not always what they seem, especially on social media. A peace sign from Martin Luther King, Jr, becomes a rude gesture; President…
“What if Everyone Did That?” – How We Make Moral Decisions
In some situations, asking “what if everyone did that?” is a common strategy for judging whether an action is right or wrong. Imagine that one…
COVID-19 Pandemic Spawns “Infodemic” in Scientific Literature
New policies, technologies could help make sense of flood of information. The science community has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with such a flurry of…
Researchers Say Tear Gas Should Be Banned – Here’s Why
The use of tear gas is rightfully banned in warfare and should equally be banned as a riot-control agent in law enforcement contexts. The use…
Is It Wrong to Prioritize Younger People Over Older COVID-19 Patients?
With services overburdened, healthcare professionals are having to decide who should receive treatment. But is it wrong to prioritize younger patients with COVID-19? Two experts…
“Serious Breach of International Ethical Standards” in Who Malaria Vaccine Study
Experts are troubled by the apparent lack of informed consent in a pilot study of the vaccine. A large scale malaria vaccine study led by…
“Substantially Human” – Bioscientific Advancements Requires Determining Boundaries of What’s Human
Recent and rapid developments in the biosciences continually blur the lines between human beings and other living organisms, while straining the legal definitions of what…
Growing Genetically Engineered Stingrays for Footwear Raises Ethical Concerns
A company called Rayfish Footwear claims to bring consumers shoes made out of genetically engineered stingrays. The resulting shoes look very distinctive, but there has…
Neuroscience Breakthroughs Could Be Harnessed by Military
If the military embraces the latest developments in neuroscience, soldiers could have their minds directly plugged into weapons systems, undergo brain scans during recruitment and…
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: The Ethics of Brain Boosting
Prominent Oxford neuroscientists are teaming up with ethicists to consider the issues raised by brain stimulating techniques. They recently spoke on BBC’s Radio 4 morning…