Rethinking exploitation: a process-centered account.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Ethics
• Research Ethics
• Moral Philosophy

Background:

• Exploitation is a key ethical concern in biomedical and research contexts.
• Alan Wertheimer's work significantly influences current discussions on exploitation.
• Existing theories often focus on outcomes rather than the ethical processes involved.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present objections to Wertheimer's outcome-focused account of exploitation.
• To develop and propose an alternative process-centered theory of exploitation.
• To argue for the superiority of process-centered accounts in addressing research ethics.

Main Methods:

• Critical analysis of Alan Wertheimer's theory of exploitation.
• Development of a novel process-centered ethical framework.
• Application of Kantian ethical principles to refine the concept of exploitation.

Main Results:

• Wertheimer's account unduly emphasizes outcome-based considerations.
• An alternative process-centered account of exploitation is developed.
• The proposed account refines the Kantian principle of not using persons as mere instruments.

Conclusions:

• Process-centered ethical accounts offer a more robust framework for analyzing exploitation in research.
• The proposed Kantian-inspired model better illuminates ethical challenges in human subjects research.
• A shift from outcome-based to process-based ethical evaluation is crucial for research integrity.