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Practical moral codes in the transgenic organism debate
D R Cooley1, Gary Goreham, George A Youngs
1Department of History and Religion, 412A Minard Hall, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105, USA. Dennis.Cooley@ndsu.nodak.edu
Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Ethics
|April 15, 2005
Summary
Interviews revealed that North Dakotans share similar moral principles but hold diverse views on transgenic organisms. A proposed Common Moral Code aims to bridge these differences, though it requires further refinement.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Ethics
- Bioethics
- Social Science Research
Background:
- Public perception of transgenic organisms (TGOs) varies widely.
- Evaluating the morality of TGOs requires understanding underlying ethical frameworks.
- Existing ethical guidelines may not fully capture public moral reasoning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify moral principles used by the public to evaluate TGOs.
- To compare public moral codes with the Belmont Report.
- To develop a practical Common Moral Code for TGO discussions.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews with individuals in North Dakota.
- Analysis of moral principles applied to TGOs and market introduction.
- Comparative analysis with the Belmont Report's ethical principles.
Main Results:
- Public moral codes were found to be similar across respondents.
- Despite similar codes, views on TGOs were significantly divergent.
- A proposed Common Moral Code revealed internal inconsistencies.
Conclusions:
- The Common Moral Code requires further development and definition refinement.
- Resolving inconsistencies is crucial for a universally accepted ethical framework.
- A refined Common Moral Code could facilitate negotiation and resolution in TGO debates.