The obstetrician's view: ethical and societal implications of non-invasive prenatal diagnosis

We believe non-invasive prenatal diagnosis is about to have a massive impact on the way fetal medicine is practised. There will be many great advantages and improvements, but the technology also has the potential to be used for non-medical reasons such as sex selection and paternity testing. We discuss some of the issues that may face obstetricians in the future as a result of this emerging technology. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On Advocacy by Environmental Scientists: What, Whether, Why, and How

Abstract:  Debate about the nature and appropriateness of advocacy by environmental scientists is important—it represents understanding the role of these citizens in our society. Much has been written about advocacy by scientists, and that literature describes substantial diversity in reasons why advocacy by scientists is or is not appropriate. Despite the nature of this literature there has been no comprehensive, systematic review of why some favor and others oppose advocacy by environmental scientists. Through a literature review we catalogued, categorized, and critiqued the arguments used for and against the appropriateness of advocacy by environmental scientists. Most arguments, whether for or against advocacy, are characterized by some significant deficiency. From our analysis of the literature an argument emerges that to date has never been fully articulated: that advocacy is nearly unavoidable, and that scientists, by virtue of being citizens first and scientists second, have a responsibility to advocate to the best of their abilities, to improve their advocacy abilities, and to advocate in a justified and transparent manner. We also discuss the meaning and relevance of advocacy being justified and transparent. We suggest scientists expend their efforts to better understand what constitutes appropriate advocacy and spend less effort pondering whether they should advocate .     

土地伦理观及其对环境规划的启示

土地伦理观认为人类的身份是土壤、水、动物和植物组成的土地共同体中平等的一员和公民,这是对人与生态环境之间关系认识的里程碑.土地伦理观的发展成熟,启示着环境规划从人类中心的对人类自身活动和环境的规划转变为生态中心的由人类施行、作用于土地共同体的完整、稳定和美丽的规划.要使土地伦理观渗透到环境规划中,需要通过加强土地伦理教育、更新土地评价标准、使用蕴含土地伦理观的规划技术方法、完善相关法规并严格执法、加强地区间协作等方法来进行.     

信息对农民增收的影响及效应分析

通过建立模型,分析了信息对农民收入的影响,结果显示,信息量、信息渠道对信息的扭曲等严重制约了农民收入的提高;目前,我国农民信息渠道单一,信息量小已经成为制约农民收入增长的重要影响因素。     

Derivation of the Extrinsic Values of Biological Diversity from Its Intrinsic Value and of Both from the First Principles of Evolution

Conservation ethics have been based on 2 philosophical value systems: extrinsic value (defined broadly to include all values that derive from something external to the thing valued) and intrinsic value. Valuing biological diversity on the basis of an extrinsic value system is problematic because measurement is often difficult; extrinsic value changes as spatial or temporal scales change; extrinsic value differs on the basis of external factors; some species have trivial or negative extrinsic values; and extrinsic value varies across human cultures and societies and with such factors as socioeconomic conditions, individual experiences, and educational backgrounds. Valuing biological diversity on the basis of an intrinsic value system also poses challenges because intrinsic value can be seen as a disguised form of human extrinsic value; intrinsic value is initially ambiguous as to which objects or characteristics of biological diversity are to being valued; all aspects of biological diversity (e.g., species and ecosystems) are transitory; species and ecosystems are not static concrete entities; and intrinsic value of one species is often in conflict with the intrinsic value of other species. Extrinsic and intrinsic value systems share a common origin, such that extrinsic values are always derived from intrinsic value and life mutely expresses both intrinsic and extrinsic values—these are derived from and are products of biological evolution. Probing the values that underlie conservation helps the community clearly articulate its aims. Derivación de los Valores Extrínsecos de la Biodiversidad a Partir de sus Valores Intrínsecos y de Ambos a Partir de los Primeros Principios de la Evolución     

Framing the ecosystem concept through a longitudinal study of developments in science and policy

This paper examines how scientific literature and policy documents frame the ecosystem concept and how these frames have shaped scientific dialogue and policy making over time. This was achieved by developing a frame typology, as a basis for organizing relevant value expressions, to assess how different frames have altered perspectives of the ecosystem concept. The frame typology and analysis is based on a semi‐grounded and longitudinal document analysis of scientific literature and policy documents using the ecosystem concept. Despite changing discourses and public priorities (e.g., cultural constructs of biodiversity) both science and policy documents are characterized by stable value systems that have not changed substantially since the 1930s. These value systems were defined based on ethical principles that delineate 6 core frames: humans first, dual systems, eco‐science, eco‐holism, animals first, and multicentrism. Specific crises (e.g., climate change) and cross‐disciplinary uptake and re‐uptake of, for example, the ecosystem services concept, have brought new perspectives to the forefront of public discourse. These developments triggered changes in the core frames that, rather than being value based, are based on how the ecosystem is conceptualized under fixed value systems and over time. Fourteen subframes were developed to reflect these longitudinal changes. There are as such clear framing effects in both scientific literature and in policy. Ecosystem research is for instance often characterized by unstated value judgments even though the scientific community does not make these explicit. In contrast, policy documents are characterized by clear value expressions but are principally management driven and human centered.     

可持续发展下环境伦理与原则

可持续发展理论与实践促进了环境伦理学的发展。环境伦理也从人类中心主义的环境伦理与非人类中心主义的环境伦理的分野走向人类中心主义的环境伦理、非人类中心主义环境伦理和可持续发展的环境伦理的鼎足。可持续发展的环境伦理是合理吸收人类中心主义环境伦理和非人类中心主义环境伦理并着眼于可持续发展的环境伦理 ,它要求人们在对待环境的行为中必须善待自然、关注未来和规范行为