Value pluralism and decision making A comment

Setting value based priorities in a world of value pluralism Different values must be respected and must to be taken into account if decisions with ethical consequences are to be accepted Policy decisions may need ethical justification for acceptance—who and how – Ethical committees, advising governments international organizations – Frameworks/process to provide ethical guidance in decision process – Ethical delphi/consensus/ ethical matrix and many others

Deciding how to decide No single generic framework that can be used to assess and manage ethical issues across all technologies/issues or over the life-cycle of these Key Framework characteristics for deliberations – Democratic deliberation – ethical pluralism Ethical Matrix fulfills these characteristics as does the ethical delphi, consensus groups ( Beauchamps et Childress, 1979, 2001, Mepham 1995,2005)

Ethical Matrix: an ethical tool in food and agricultural ethics Well being, autonomy and justice—columns – Specific definitions are a function of the issue Stakeholders/interest groups -- rows – Broad range of interest groups Applications: biotechnology acceptance/taxes/

Ethical matrix example: future challenges of fisheries in Norway Question: to enforce a special tax for the usage of common resources like sea and coastline. Future consequences of measure not uniquely economic potential – Basic uncertainty about future developments/cc/ – Ethical scenarios---future scenarios and ethical consequences of each

JusticeDignityWell-being FishermenEquql rights –categoriesRight to control work situation & respect Safe/secure workplace & income Fishing industryEqual terms as for fisheries and other Acknowledge place in value chain Stable deliveries fro,m the industry Other users marineEqual access to resourcesRespect for their needs and use of sea and coast Access to welfare goods directed at marine activities as other users SocietyEqual living conditions urban rural Freedom to manage resources for welfare of society as a whole Income from marine activities ConsumersQuality products for different groups Choice and possibility to influence food products Healthy food in adequate amts Future generationsConservation of marine environment Knowing that other generations acted respect for their welfare No activities that threaten health or living conditions BiosphereDiffusion of a viable level of burdens to all society Limit harm to natureFish & other animals not exposed to unnecessary pain

Ethical scenario process Acceptable consequence: does not violate priority values and respects as many values as possible. Mapping of values and weighting of them – Pluses(respected values),minuses(violated values),and zeros(values not relevant)