Education and Ethics A Response to Prof. Diego Garcia Soraj Hongladarom, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand

Presented at the Fourth Session of the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology - COMEST March 2005 Imperial Queen’s Park Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand

Deliberative Ethics The need to avoid ‘indoctrination’ and ‘value-free attitude’ in teaching ethics and making ethical judgments. The need to avoid ‘indoctrination’ and ‘value-free attitude’ in teaching ethics and making ethical judgments. One should avoid both pitfalls: neither imposing one set of values without due consideration and thorough investigation, nor avoiding this difficult task and taking all values to be the same. One should avoid both pitfalls: neither imposing one set of values without due consideration and thorough investigation, nor avoiding this difficult task and taking all values to be the same.

What is Actually Happening Many in the policy making circles, however, still subscribe to the idea—which stemmed from the belief that the questions of fact and of value should be strictly separated. Many in the policy making circles, however, still subscribe to the idea—which stemmed from the belief that the questions of fact and of value should be strictly separated. This resulted in the latter being pushed to the domain of ‘affection’ or ‘subjective preferences’. This resulted in the latter being pushed to the domain of ‘affection’ or ‘subjective preferences’.

Proposals The UNESCO and other concerned agencies should help promote programs of studies in EST in higher educational institutions, especially in developing countries. The UNESCO and other concerned agencies should help promote programs of studies in EST in higher educational institutions, especially in developing countries. Those attending these programs will be equipped with ethical sensitivities and critical thinking skills and will be able to make informed decisions on ethical issues. Those attending these programs will be equipped with ethical sensitivities and critical thinking skills and will be able to make informed decisions on ethical issues. Furthermore, they will become catalysts for further discussion and deliberation in a wider society. Furthermore, they will become catalysts for further discussion and deliberation in a wider society.

The ASEAN-EU LEMLIFE Project Funded by the European Commission through the ASEAN-EU University Network Programme (AUNP) Funded by the European Commission through the ASEAN-EU University Network Programme (AUNP) LEMLIFE stands for “Legal, Ethical, and Management Aspects of the Life Sciences and Biotechnology” LEMLIFE stands for “Legal, Ethical, and Management Aspects of the Life Sciences and Biotechnology”

LEMLIFE Website: Website: Aims: Aims: Develop a curriculum leading to an MA degree program in bioethics Develop a curriculum leading to an MA degree program in bioethics Promote awareness of bioethics, biolaw and biomanagement, especially in South-east Asia. Promote awareness of bioethics, biolaw and biomanagement, especially in South-east Asia. Composition Composition Four universities from ASEAN; four from the EU. Four universities from ASEAN; four from the EU.

Challenges Interdisciplinary nature of bioethics and ethics of science and technology. Interdisciplinary nature of bioethics and ethics of science and technology. How to attract students to attend such a program? How to attract students to attend such a program? Tentative answer --> Form a consortium of universities in the region and promote student mobility. E.g.,the student may start at University A, then move to University B after one semester, then she can choose to stay on at B, go to C, or come back to A. The degree could be awarded by the student’s ‘home’ university. Tentative answer --> Form a consortium of universities in the region and promote student mobility. E.g.,the student may start at University A, then move to University B after one semester, then she can choose to stay on at B, go to C, or come back to A. The degree could be awarded by the student’s ‘home’ university. This will widen the pool of talented students. This will widen the pool of talented students.