Ethics for life sciences engineers

Abstract

Before looking at how people should make ethical decisions, it is useful to start by looking at how people normally do make ethical decisions. This has been the subject of much research in behavioural economics, psychology, social psychology and sociology. This research suggests that many ethical decisions are made intuitively.  These intuitions are very helpful as they allow ‘fast’ thinking, which means people can function without being paralysed by the need to think everything through. But intuitions are also subject to predictable errors. These errors include priming effects, anchoring bias, a disposition to follow narrative over logic, and bystander effects. Recognising how these biases impact ethical thinking helps clarify how to avoid them. 

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