The Ethical Basis of Science

Abstract

I have connected, in passing, our "scaled particle" results with actively evolving theories such as the Percus-Yevick theory (16) and have men-Recently Y. Sinai, Dokl.Akad. Nauk SSSR 153, 1261 (1963), has announced a proof of the ergodic theorem for the hard-sphere system in a rectangular box. Thus this system has the distinction of being effectively the only nontrivial many-body system for which the application of statistical mechanics is justified by theory. For a summary of the equilibrium properties of this system see for example, H. L. Frisch, Advan. The hard-sphere model has a venerable history in kinetic theory as a result of the simplicity of the dynamics of these model molecules.Thus the binary collision cross section is independent of the relative velocity of the colliding spheres. Recently Y. Sinai, Dokl.Akad. Nauk SSSR 153, 1261 (1963), has announced a proof of the ergodic theorem for the hard-sphere system in a rectangular box. Thus this system has the distinction of being effectively the only nontrivial many-body system for which the application of statistical mechanics is justified by theory. For a summary of the equilibrium properties of this system see for example, H. L. Frisch, Advan.

La vida y la muerte ante la ética y el derecho: paternalismo médico y desarrollo científico

“…La ciencia tiene que saber que lo que es bueno para el individuo puede ser malo para el grupo social y que lo que es bueno para el grupo social puede ser malo para el individuo 20 . Las responsabilidades éticas y sociales de los científicos se centra en «manifestar los beneficios», porque la ciencia está pagada con fondos públicos y privados sobre la base de sus posibles beneficios sociales y en «advertir de los riesgos», como hicieron Einstein y Russell, pero precisando lo que son los hechos y lo que es su opinión 21 . En cualquier caso es indispensable que el científico tenga la libertad intelectual y científica para buscar la verdad y que no se vea sometido a exigencias de utilidad impuestas por una política o una religión.…”

Collaborative Science and the American Thoracic Society

“…Thus, applying any level of pressure support causes physicians to underestimate the respiratory resistance a patient will encounter after extubation. The addition of a small amount of pressure support produces surprisingly large reductions in inspiratory work in ventilated patients: 5 cm H 2 O decreases inspiratory work by 31 to 38%, and 10 cm H 2 O decreases work by 46 to 60% (8,9). Nonetheless, most-but not all-patients can tolerate a 30 to 60% increase in inspiratory load at the point of extubation.…”

“…Accordingly, static recoil pressure of the respiratory system is zero at end-expiration in a healthy adult. The addition of 5 cm H 2 O of PEEP can decrease work of breathing by as much as 40% in ventilated patients (9). PEEP also produces a substantial increase in cardiac output in patients with left-ventricular failure (13).…”

“…Regardless of work setting, biomedical scientists share two fundamental principles. They must adhere to a common set of research ethics based on truth, transparency, integrity, and education of future generations of scientists (9). Developing trust among all stakeholders requires that all scientists abide by these rules.…”

Cross-cultural Conflicts in Fire Management in Northern Australia: Not so Black and White

“…Land managers are often reluctant to change past practices and embrace new information. The "we do it this way because we have always done it this way" syndrome can be an extremely powerful one (Kaufman 1960, Kennedy 1988, and such pressures to conform are not conducive to good science (Glass 1965, Mattson 1996, Hutchings et al 1997). My experience is that this applies to fire management in northern Australia, where there is considerable reluctance to seek new knowledge or to take on information that lies outside the accepted information channels of tradition, beliefs, and personal experience.…”