Ethics of chemical weapons research

Kovac, Jeffrey

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127946 Copy

Description

Title

Ethics of chemical weapons research

Author(s)

Kovac, Jeffrey

Issue Date

2016-06-15

Keyword(s)

• History
• Chemistry

Abstract

Throughout history the use of chem. weapons in warfare has been controversial. The morality of chemical weapons research is similarly controversial because several potentially conflicting obligations and codes of ethics impact the decision of the individual chemist as to whether to participate in such research. In this article I will discuss the complex ethical questions surrounding chem. weapons research. All chemists are members of a national community with the obligations of citizenship, but they are also professionals subject to a code of ethics. Of course, they are also members of the human community and consequently subject to the more or less universal common morality. Membership in a religious community might also add moral restraints. A key question for chemists is whether the current professional codes of ethics can provide adequate guidance in trying to deal with this complex issue.

Description

Throughout history the use of chem. weapons in warfare has been controversial. The morality of chemical weapons research is similarly controversial because several potentially conflicting obligations and codes of ethics impact the decision of the individual chemist as to whether to participate in such research. In this article I will discuss the complex ethical questions surrounding chem. weapons research. All chemists are members of a national community with the obligations of citizenship, but they are also professionals subject to a code of ethics. Of course, they are also members of the human community and consequently subject to the more or less universal common morality. Membership in a religious community might also add moral restraints. A key question for chemists is whether the current professional codes of ethics can provide adequate guidance in trying to deal with this complex issue.

Publisher

Division of the History of Chemistry

ISSN

1053-4385

Type of Resource

text

Genre of Resource

article

Language

eng

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127946

DOI

https://doi.org/10.70359/bhc2016v041p056

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2016 Division of the History of Chemistry

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