The scientific community increasingly recognizes that science itself is not a value-free activity and, therefore, the choice of what research to undertake and how to undertake it must be governed by ethical principles. But there is still a nucleus of scientists who oppose that concept, arguing that there must be no restrictions on the search for new knowledge, and that ethical principles only become relevant in the application of that knowledge.
最近，我和路易斯维尔大学的罗纳德·阿特拉斯教授一起向《科学》杂志递交了一份题为《生命科学的伦理规范》的提案。我们提出的需要一种规范及其内容的要求，遇到了各种互相激烈冲突的观点的冲击。科学界日益认识到科学本身不是不受价值控制的活动，因此，选择从事何种研究，如何从事一定要服从于伦理原则。但是，还是有一群科学家反对这一观念。他们争辩说绝对不应该限制对新知识的研究，只有在对该知识进行应用时，伦理原则才相关。