Ethics Workshop: Computational Neuroscience and Technology REU
July 18, 2005
9:00 am – 3:00 pm
MRCI Conference Room, BEL 328
Facilitator: Michael O’Rourke, Department of Philosophy

Time

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Topic

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Session Leader

9:00 – 9:30 / Introductions and Purpose of the Workshop / O’Rourke
9:30 – 10:45 / What is Ethics?
  • The general point of the discipline; differentiation from similar domains (e.g., religion)
  • Ethics as the building of a particular type of structure
  • General concepts and their analysis: good, right, just, virtue
  • Consideration of dominant ethical theories: consequentialism (right in terms of good); judgment-based (good and right independently); justice-based (human rights); virtue-based
  • Discussion: How should we evaluate these theories?
/ O’Rourke
10:45 – 11:00 / Break
11:00 – 11:45 / What has Ethics to do with Research, Science, and Engineering?
  • Applying ethics and applied ethics
  • Applying ethics to science, engineering, and research
  • Discussion: What aspects of these domains seem relevant? How can ethics help? How can it hurt?
/ O’Rourke
11:45 – 12:30 / Brown Bag Lunch:
  • Discussion: Case Study in Engineering
/ Richard Wells,
Electrical and Computer Engineering

Time

/

Topic

/ Session Leader(s)
12:30 – 1:15 / Ethics in Project Proposal and Project Scheduling
  • Opening Remarks: Proposing and Scheduling Projects (Wells)
  • Discussion: Where are the points at which ethical questions might arise? How should one deal with these?
/ Wells, O’Rourke
1:15 – 2:00 / Ethics in Research and Publication
  • Opening Remarks: A description of research and publication. (Wells)
  • Discussion: Where are the points at which ethical questions might arise? How should one deal with these?
/ Wells,
O’Rourke
2:00 – 2:15 / Break
2:15 –2:45 / What are the Ethical Issues in Neuroscience?
  • Neuroscience and Ethics: An Overview (Wells)
  • Discussion: Where are the points at which ethical questions might arise? How should one deal with these?
/ Wells,
O’Rourke
2:45 – 3:00 / Conclusion
  • What can we learn from this?
  • Should there be a written "Research Ethics Code"? What good would this do? What should it include?
/ O’Rourke