Here is an interesting note from grrlscientist at scienceblogs:
“In response to what appears to be a growing problem, a group of people at the Institute of Medical Science at University of Toronto in Canada wrote a scientist’s version of the Hippocratic oath. This oath (below) was recited by all graduate students in the biological sciences at the beginning of the 2007-2008 academic year. “
I promise never to allow financial gain, competitiveness or ambition cloud my judgment in the conduct of ethical research and scholarship. I will pursue knowledge and create knowledge for the greater good, but never to the detriment of colleagues, supervisors, research subjects or the international community of scholars of which I am now a member.
Given the politicization of science, such as we’ve witnessed recently from Jim Hansen’s conduct in calling for trials, perhaps making this a requirement for all graduating science majors, plus a requirement for membership to professional organizations such as AMS, AAAS, etc might be a good idea.
The IEEE code of ethics for Electrical and Electronics Engineers has merit, in particular #9 in the list.
“We, the members of the IEEE, in recognition of the importance of our technologies in affecting the quality of life throughout the world, and in accepting a personal obligation to our profession, its members and the communities we serve, do hereby commit ourselves to the highest ethical and professional conduct and agree:
1. to accept responsibility in making decisions consistent with the safety, health and welfare of the public, and to disclose promptly factors that might endanger the public or the environment;
2. to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest whenever possible, and to disclose them to affected parties when they do exist;
3. to be honest and realistic in stating claims or estimates based on available data;
4. to reject bribery in all its forms;
5. to improve the understanding of technology, its appropriate application, and potential consequences;
6. to maintain and improve our technical competence and to undertake technological tasks for others only if qualified by training or experience, or after full disclosure of pertinent limitations;
7. to seek, accept, and offer honest criticism of technical work, to acknowledge and correct errors, and to credit properly the contributions of others;
8. to treat fairly all persons regardless of such factors as race, religion, gender, disability, age, or national origin;
9. to avoid injuring others, their property, reputation, or employment by false or malicious action;
10. to assist colleagues and co-workers in their professional development and to support them in following this code of ethics.”
So what would be in a blogger’s or blog commentator’s oath?
Trivia item:
Apparently the Hippocratic Oath has been largely replaced by the similar ‘Declaration of Geneva’.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocratic_Oath
I don’t think I like oaths. Only the ethical would obey them anyway.
Besides, they are often inflicted on the young and gullible by those who wish to rule them.
But financial gain, competitiveness, and ambition are what drives most scientists, in various order. Do they “cloud your judgment”? So does ideology, conformism, tooth ache, etc. etc. How do you know that your judgment is clouded? That’s only for others to decide. Many of the great scientists in history had their judgment “clouded”. Yet they made great contributions to our knowledge of the natural world.
In the end, our societies are not ruled by individual pledges. When dishonesty is punished, it is discouraged. That’s why we have laws and police forces. But we also have free speech, and a hopefully fair justice system.
That’s all that the pursuit of science needs: free speech, open debate, and penalties for those who are dishonest. Individual pledges mean nothing.
In some cases, the “Hippocritic” oath seems more appropriate.
Then, I don’t use 200,000 kWh per year. What do I know…
Amicus Plato, sed magis amicam veritas.