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Onderzoekprogramma OZSE |
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Research Programme Netherlands School for Research in Practical Philosophy (NSRPP)
Introduction
The Netherlands School for Research in Practical Philosophy directs its research to issues in both the area of fundamental ethics and that of applied ethics. Fundamental ethics comprises meta-ethical issues and research into the presuppositions, foundations and applications of normative ethics, theological ethics and political philosophy. The research progresses from the various ethical traditions represented in the research school.
In the area of applied ethics research focuses on bio-ethical questions (medical ethics, health ethics, animal, food and nature ethics), on issues in the realm of social and political ethics (migration, business ethics), and technology ethics (information technology, nanotechnology).
Each of the diverse parts of the research programme is characterised by 1) emphasis on the interaction between fundamental and applied research, and 2) attention to the relation between ethics (both fundamental and applied) and the empirical sciences.
Build-up of ethical theory is the basis of applied ethics, but must also prove its fruitfulness there. Conversely, applied ethics cannot do without reflection on fundamental philosophical presuppositions. In areas where applied ethics already has a traditional bond with the empirical sciences, one may expect that fundamental ethics, too, reflects on the results and theoretical assumptions of the empirical sciences. High-quality ethical research therefore demands an interdisciplinary approach.
1. Principles of Ethics and Political Philosophy
Within the NSRPP, fundamental research increasingly occupies a central place. Meta-ethics for example analyses the structure of ‘reasoning’ and the characteristics of practical and moral ‘reasons’, analyses theories of rationality and investigates the meta-ethical presuppositions in moral discussions. The focus is on analysis of the epistemological status of moral assertions, the possibility of moral knowledge and the (im)possibility of moral foundings. In particular concepts are analysed that are of central significance in normative ethics and political philosophy, such as freedom, integrity, human skills and moral rights.
NSRPP considers it of special importance that this research takes place in the context of different ethical traditions; the variety of approaches represented in the school – cognitivistic, transcendental-philosophical, analytical, coherentistic and hermeneutical – inspire and complement each other.
It is of great importance for such fundamental research that explicit attention is paid to the historical traditions within moral philosophy. More recently discussion and exchange with specific disciplines has come to play an increasing role in the ethical research, for instance with moral psychology, the neuro- and cognition sciences, jurisprudence and political science. Great emphasis will be placed on the question as to the significance of the knowledge and insights from these disciplines for fundamental and applied ethics. Equally important is an ethical evaluation of developments within these sciences.
2. Methodological issues in applied ethics
Many fundamental-ethical problems are studied precisely in connection with questions in applied ethics. In applied ethics reflection on methodological assumptions looms large. An important discussion, which, incidentally, puts Dutch research on the international map, concerns the question as to the relevance of empirical research (about human capacities, psychological presuppositions and moral attitudes) for (fundamental and) applied ethics. Further, social-scientific theories concerning society, political actors or structures of knowledge generation are very important for many ethical issues. Internationally, this discussion about ethics and empirics is only now taking great strides in development.
In the NSRPP research over the next years various theories about empirically-informed ethics will be considered from a meta-ethical point of view. Specifically the studies will look into the relationship between psychology and ethics. Not only closer scrutiny of ‘moral psychology’ is desirable; also needed is deeper reflection on psychological presuppositions that are important for the formation of ethical theory (such as characteristics and conditions of actorship, the role of moral emotions, the role of integrity, etc.).
Applied ethics has paid attention to interdisciplinarity for some time already, and the relation with other disciplines such as technology assessment, philosophy of science, biological theory (evolution theory, neuroscience) or sociology of technology will be investigated more extensively in the next years. Crucial here is that applied ethics must be informed about other scientific research, but equally needed is ethical reflection on the assumptions and the research in these disciplines. In many areas questions arise that relate to the responsibility for the generation of knowledge. The more important knowledge and its technological applications become, the more important also becomes the question about responsibility for the accumulation of this knowledge.
3. Politics, economy and community
International and national developments play a part in renewed reflection on common value patterns, people’s rights, citizenship and justice. The frameworks for these discussions as such, however, are subject of discussion as well. In the near past traditional notions such as ‘recognition’, ‘freedom’, ‘rights’ or ‘enlightenment’ have been debated, both in light of their philosophical and historical wellsprings and in connection with their suitability for the analysis and critique of recent developments. Other important examples of social change that urge us to develop new moral frameworks are environmental changes and the worldwide spread of large and new technologies. Then too, a central point of discussion in many European countries is the moral evaluation of immigration. One consequence of the discussions about the problem of immigration and the success or failure of the multicultural society is the increasingly insistent call for thorough reflection on a shared value pattern within these societies. Religion plays an important role in this. For all of these developments holds true that ethical analysis should be carried out in teamwork with other sciences. In the analysis of ‘globalisation’, for example, the question of the moral status of actors like the state, NGOs or international organisations cannot be answered without proper insight into the actual role played by these actors. And again, fundamental research in these areas cannot be done independently of applied research. Analysis of the new relationships between market and state, to use another example, can hardly be carried out independently of systematic reflection on the role of the economy. In the NSRPP problems of business ethics have been considered for some time. More recently reflection on the fundamental level is increasingly addressing the very frameworks relating to moral boundaries of economic action, limits to commoditisation and responsibility of economic actors. It appears important to engage in more direct involvement on the part of normative ethics and political philosophy with actual discussions in business ethics.
4. Bio-ethics, health and care ethics
For many years now, the NSRPP has been playing an internationally recognised role in the field of bio-ethics. Three areas deserve special mention here. First, research is carried out in the traditional fields of medical ethics, such as issues in genetic diagnostics and euthanasia. These continue to demand attention, not only because the Dutch debate (concerning euthanasia for instance) has led to much discussion worldwide, but especially because technological developments continually give rise to new ethical questions. In particular the developments in gene-technology, genomics and nanomedicine will generate new applications the consequences of which are at present difficult to anticipate. In the near future therefore research will concern the so-called enhancement technologies. These are technological means to improve the human body in the absence of sickness or incapacity. Such developments prompt discussion of the legitimacy of medical intervention and the view of humanity in the art of medicine itself. Secondly, there are problems that continue to demand renewed attention and reflection, such as issues about justice in the system of health care. Developments in the field of Public Health and the fact of financial scarcity lead to questions concerning the normative criteria in terms of which the underlying concepts of political justice can be judged. This issue is considered both on the theoretical level (e.g. in Public Health ethics regarding the question of the limits of collective interest and collective responsibility) and on the applied level, as in questions about organ transplantation and organ donation. Thirdly, the NSRPP has built up a leading position and its own expertise in the area of animal, nature and nutrition ethics. Research by the school’s Members stakes out the frontline of international discussions. For the immediate future, therefore, this will continue to be a centre of gravity within the research school. The debate in animal ethics is in need of further, deeper elaboration of theoretical principles: for instance, the concept of ‘intrinsic value’ for animals still is moral-philosophically underdetermined. Also, in the field of nutrition ethics, a new arrival in the area of applied ethics, the need arises for theoretical reflection on practical issues, such as concerning responsible consumption, and an equitable food chain.
5. Ethics and technology
No longer are technological developments the domain of bio-ethics alone. Next to research in genomics there are important developments in the fields of ICT and nanotechnology as well. In recent years these too draw attention in political and ethical discussions. For the immediate future this topic will be a priority within the NSRPP. It should be noted that this is a field of research-in-development, where useful methodology to deal with issues in this domain is urgently needed. One reason for the lack of methodology so far is that an overview of concrete applications, for instance in nanotechnology, is often difficult to obtain, event though this is very important for the moral evaluation of knowledge in the area of technology assessment, philosophy of science, political philosophy and normative ethics. There is a decided need for closer reflection on the consequences of new technologies for both individual citizens and for society as a whole, at the same time technological innovation urges us to broaden the (moral) horizon. Our understanding of risk and responsibility for instance is markedly influenced by technological possibilities and insights. The complexity of structures and processes with which technology confronts us therefore demands further normative thinking and a broader approach. Ethical reflection will for example be directed at moral problems attending the introduction of new artefacts and systems. In the years ahead the NSRPP wants to gain international renown in this field.
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