Ethical Tools to Support Systematic Public Deliberations about the Ethical Aspects of Agricultural Biotechnologies |
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Authors: | Volkert Beekman Frans W A Brom |
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Institution: | (1) Agricultural Economics Research Institute, Wageningen University and Research Centre, P.O. Box 29703, 2502 LS The Hague, The Netherlands;(2) Ethics Institute, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 2, 3584 CS Utrecht, The Netherlands |
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Abstract: | This special issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics presents so-called ethical tools that are developed to support systematic public deliberations about the ethical aspects
of agricultural biotechnologies. This paper firstly clarifies the intended connotations of the term “ethical tools” and argues
that such tools can support liberal democracies to cope with the issues that are raised by the application of genetic modification
and other modern biotechnologies in agriculture and food production. The paper secondly characterizes the societal discussion
on agricultural biotechnology and defends the thesis that normative perspectives fuel this discussion, so one cannot come
to grips with this discussion if one neglects these perspectives. The paper thirdly agrues that no such thing exists as “one”
societal debate in which these issues should be discussed. There are several interwined debates, and different actors participate
in different discourses. Some practical instruments are necessary in order to include the right issues in these debates. These
instruments will be coined as “ethical tools,” since they are practical instruments that can be used (tools) in order to support
debates and deliberative structures for a systematic engagement with ethical issues (hence, ethical tools). Finally, the
paper clarifies the ethics of these ethical tools and presents the tools as discussed in the remainder of this special issue:
1) tools to include ethical issues in public consulation and involvement; 2) tools to support systematic reflection upon ethical
issues in decision-making; and 3) tools to support explicit communication about values in the food chain. |
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Keywords: | Ethical tools GM evaluation normative perspective societal debate values in the food chain participatory decision-making communicative space value pluralism |
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