[Neuropostdocs] Workshop: Introduction to Ethical Theory -- March 9

[Samuel Beshers]

There will be a workshop on "An Introduction to Ethical Theory" from 6:00 - 
9:00 PM on Thursday, March 9,
in Beckman 1215.  This is primarily directed at students in the 
Neuroscience Program, but postdocs are welcome as long as
there is room (maximum attendance of 30).   RSVP to me if you plan to 
attend.  For NSP students, this does contribute to
meeting the program requirement for training in ethics.

In scientific practice, medicine, and life in general, we are constantly 
called on to make decisions that affect the lives of
others.  Most of us are accustomed to making such decisions, and want to 
make them well.  But novel situations
frequently arise where the correct, or best, decision is by no means 
obvious.  How should we decide in such
situations?  How do we choose the best course of action?   How can we think 
about and recognize what choices, or courses
of action, are possible?  What will be the consequences of our 
decisions?  Can we be consistent in our choices, or must
our decisions be arbitrary?

Ethical theory is the study of these and many other related questions, and 
is an attempt to define guidelines to help in
sound decision making.  The purpose of this workshop is to introduce you to 
ethical theory, in the hope that it will deepen
your appreciation of ethics in research and medicine, and in the rest of 
your life as well, and will prepare you to make
better decisions in the difficult circumstances that you will inevitably 
encounter.




Samuel N. Beshers, Ph.D.
Neuroscience Program Coordinator
Research Associate, Department of Entomology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
505 South Goodwin Ave
Urbana, IL  61801
217-333-4971
beshers at life.uiuc.edu