Philosophical Bases of Scientific Ethics in Adherence to Scientific Method

Abstract

Considerations on scientific ethics for science student are exposed which are required in order to achieve an adequate formation consistent with the intelectual nature of the pursued scientific investiture. This situation is analyzed from the philosophy of science perspective which in this case is strongly supported on the empirical basis of scientific praxis. The philosophical bases for understanding ethics are explained remarking the influence of various philosophical doctrines or schools of thought and underlyning the confusion between moral and ethical perspectives. Consequently, scientific ethics requires handling a proper concept of science, and of scientific method including the debate on its non-existence which lacks basis on philosophy of science. Thus, questions such as: why am I a scientist? what is science? what is scientific method? why do we publish? and, what scientific ethics actually is and how it influences science students? should be considered and coupled with the philosophical doctrines that led us to the praxis of a scientific calling, such as romanticism, existencialism, positivism, rationalism, and empirism, among others. That is, it is an ethical requirement to recognize and consider the philosophical bases of science for the praxis of scientific research. As corolary, it is pertinent to state that ignoring ethics and its philosophical bases may constitute a deficiency in education of science students.