Moral responsibility and the 'ignorant scientist'.
The question whether a scientist can be responsible for an outcome of her work which she does not foresee, and so is ignorant of, is addressed. It is argued that ignorance can be a ground for the attribution of responsibility, on condition that there are general principles, rules or norms, that the subject should be aware of. It is maintained that there are such rules which inform the practice of science as a social institution.
School of Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia. J.Forge@sct.gu.edu.au
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D004989:Ethics; D032984:Ethics, Research; D012106:Research; D012586:Science; D012941:Social Responsibility