Scientific Freedom and Social Responsibility

Recent statements of the responsibilities of scientists have strengthened such responsibilities toward the societies in which they pursue their research. Scientists are now expected to do more than treat their experimental subjects ethically and communicate their results. They are also expected to benefit humanity. In a shift from the predominant views of the second half of the twentieth century, social responsibility is now yoked to the freedom to pursue scientific research, rather than opposed to such freedom. First this chapter will describe this change and some of its causes. Then it will address the fact that much of our institutional research oversight infrastructure was put in place with a now-outdated understanding of the societal responsibilities and freedoms of scientists. Finally, this chapter will make some recommendations on how to shift the structures we have to be more in tune with the current conceptualization of scientific freedom and social responsibility.