Research of Philosophy

Our vision is a world in which the life sciences and novel technologies contribute to values such as quality of life, health, justice, biodiversity, and moral responsibility. This requires societal (including scientific and professional) practices in which inevitable value conflicts are taken seriously and dealt with in a responsible way.

Our mission is to offer education and do research that promote critical reflection on fundamental and assumptions ethical choices in professional, scientific, corporate and political practices in the Wageningen domains. Such reflection is critical to responsible decision making in these practices.

The research expertise of the philosophy group covers three broad, overlapping domains:

• Public health ethics
• Animal and environmental ethics
• Philosophy of technology

Within these domains, our research covers five themes:

• Pragmatist research and deliberation
• Public understanding and communication
• Global social justice and the consequences of technology-use
• Co-evolution between science and ethics
• Ethics in life sciences and knowledge regimes

These terms cover the search for pluralism and democratic practices that stimulate cooperation and deliberation. This endeavor implies an aversion of absolute doubts and other forms of skepticism, because there are always lived experiences and practices where cooperation and deliberation can make a difference. Moreover, conceptual distinctions should be made on the basis of these practices and not be employed as barriers.

Science is no longer regarded automatically as an authoritative arbiter in societal disputes and as playing a positive role in defining and solving societal problems. In fact, scientists are often confronted with apparent distrust and negative responses towards new technologies and science-based solutions are frequently regarded as causing new problems. In this research line we seek to understand how communication and interaction patterns between scientists, citizens, government, industry and other stakeholders influence dynamics of trust and credibility, whereby we have a special interest in the role of open and easy access and spread of information through Internet and social media. In addition, we are interested in the processes of opinion formation and risk evaluation, including the cognitive and social processes that affect how people interpret experiences, make sense of scientific insights, or perceive risks in connection with new technologies. On the basis of these insights, methods for improving the interaction between the different stakeholders are being developed.

While other research themes shed light on how societal configurations influence and shape technology and innovation, this line seeks to uncover the intended and unintended consequences and impacts of the everyday-use of technology in different (but interconnected) time and space settings. Such impacts are evaluated against normative standards in the sphere of ethics and social justice, including considerations related to equity, solidarity, dignity and human rights. In addition, this research line seeks to gain understanding in the extent to which consequences and impacts for different categories of people (in different time and space settings) can be foreseen and anticipated, and in the kinds of methodologies can be used effectively for this purpose.

Science in all its forms is impregnated with values; what type of values should influence and accompany science and technologies and their products? Global justice requires that science considers seriously the question how to reduce the gap between rich and poor peoples, in particular with respect to food, agriculture and nature.

Our research starts with the idea that knowledge comprises never only fact finding, but is always deeply connected with contextual values and emotions. The subject matter of the life Sciences are fundamental for humans. For knowledge seekers, the main challenge is to do justice to the often justified knowledge claims and practices of non-scientific approaches. We want to find out in how far creating knowledge and skill (and not only benefitting from knowledge) is an essential form of human flourishing and should therefore be recognized as such.