Since our blog clearly did not have enough Star Trek references, I dredged up this clip.
In this episode of Star Trek Voyager, Nothing Human, Belana, a member of the ship voyager, gets dangerously sick and the Doctor seeks Krell's help. After extensive work with krell, it is discovered that much of his work to develop cures for epidemics involved inhumane treatment of humans. Consequently Vilana refuses treatment because she does not want to benifit from the suffering of thousands of other people.
Tuvok points out the ethical dilemma that by using Krells research "we would be validating his methods inviting further unethical research."
However, in this episode Captain Janeway is so concerned about Belana's well being that she overrides her wishes and uses Krell's research to help cure Belana. This underscores how difficult it is to follow personal ethical standards when situations are desperate.
Response: Ethics of Using Questionable Research
ReplyDeleteExcellent clip, you can always seem to rely on Star Trek to provide commentary on the human condition, ethics, and philosophy. This clip in particular addresses the issue of whether it is unconditionally wrong to use research begotten under ethically unsound conditions. The most obvious real world analogue to this issue would be the dilemma of whether to use the Nazi research. Much to Kant's chagrin, I would argue that, yes, we should indeed use the research, no matter how sordid its inception.
When all is said and done, human suffering is fleeting while scientific progress continues from generation to generation. Now I don't mean to offend anyone by taking such a callous position, but try to distance yourself emotionally from this issue for a bit. It is easy to denounce research when those who suffered were related to you. Were I Jewish, I don't doubt that my position on this issue would be the exact opposite of what I'm arguing now. But what about the other side of the coin? If the Nazi research could in some way help someone you love who is suffering, I imagine it would be much easier to rationalize its use. The Star Trek clip addressed this dilemma very well. The alien hologram comments, "Ethics? Morality? Conscience? Funny how they all go out the airlock when we need something." He makes an excellent point. Many of us oppose the use of torture in principle. But if the use of torture gave us information that could prevent another 9/11, would it be excusable? Does the application of an ethical code change depending on the situation, or is it static and uncompromising?
Then there's the issue of whether or not using ill-gotten research validates the people or manner in which it was attained. If we openly use the Nazi data, it would seem to an extent that we are condoning their actions. This argument though just doesn't seem to stick with me. The Nazis are one of the most universally abhorred groups throughout all of history. This sentiment won't change whether or not we put their data to use. Murder and genocide will always be wrong. Anyone who thinks that dealing out suffering in the name of research will excuse their crime should not be surprised when the civilized world comes down hard on them like what happened in the second world war.
I'd like to leave you with one final consideration. How does the passage of time affect how we view those who suffered in the past? Or, many years from now when we are more distanced from the horrors of the holocaust, when everyone who experienced it firsthand as well as their children are dead and gone, will it still invoke as strong of feelings as it does now? The answer, of course, is no. The advances of civilization as we know it can be accounted for in part by the suffering and sacrifice of unremembered millions throughout the ages. Yet life goes on, and the overall direction of progress is ever forward.
You raise a great question at the end of this post, Jeff. Betham, in his pleasure/pain calculus tries to bring in proximity (which I believe extends to temporal events).
ReplyDeleteStar Trek remains a brilliant exploration of ethics.
Link to a book you might find interesting:
http://www.amazon.com/Ethics-Star-Trek-Judith-Barad/dp/0060933267