Ethical virtues in scientific research

Account Res. 2012;19(6):329-43. doi: 10.1080/08989621.2012.728908.

Abstract

Most approaches to promoting integrity in research are principle-based in that they portray ethical conduct as consisting of adherence to ethical rules, duties, or responsibilities. Bruce MacFarlane has recently criticized the principle-based approach to promoting integrity in research and offered a virtue-based alternative. MacFarlane argues that principle-based approaches do not provide adequate guidance for ethical decision-making and are not very useful in moral education. In this article, I examine and critique MacFarlane's defense of the virtue-based approach. I argue that virtue-based and principle-based approaches to ethics are complementary and that they both can help promote research integrity.

MeSH terms

  • Decision Making
  • Ethical Theory*
  • Ethics, Research* / education
  • Humans
  • Mentors
  • Principle-Based Ethics
  • Teaching
  • Virtues*