ABSTRACT
In the last chapter I argued that science’s ethical standards are based on the goals of the scientific profession, which include the quest for knowledge, the elimination of ignorance, and the solution of practical problems. Many of the standards of conduct in science also have a moral foundation. For example, fabricating data is unethical in science because it is a form of lying, which is morally wrong, and because data fabrication promulgates errors and destroys the atmosphere of trust that plays a key role in science. Scientists should practice social responsibility in order to satisfy moral obligations and to secure the public’s support for science. Thus, ethical standards in science have two conceptual foundations, morality and science. Ethical conduct in science should not violate commonly accepted moral standards and it should promote the advancement of scientific goals. In this chapter I will defend twelve principles of ethics in science, which apply to different aspects of the research process. After discussing these principles, I will make some additional remarks to clarify my approach to ethics in science. The principles are as follows.
