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The College of Arts & Humanities and the Department of Philosophy are currently involved in an initiative to create a Center of Ethics at UCF. The proposed Ethics Center will support a set of interdisciplinary projects informed by a firm foundation in the philosophical ethics traditions. It will sponsor research, lectures, conferences, and other academic projects that explore ethical issues from an interdisciplinary perspective. The work of the center will be focused on several important initiatives and includes projects organized both by schools and departments in the College of Arts and Humanities and by other colleges and research centers.
Initiative for Ethics in Entertainment and Media
Together with the Philosophy Department, the School of Communication, the Film and Digital Media Departments, as well as other interested departments the Initiative for Ethics in Entertainment and Media will focus on ethical issues that pertain to practices in the entertainment and news media. These includes a wide range of questions about
- the fair reporting of news and information
- journalistic integrity
- honesty in academic and scientific publications
- accuracy in the media representation of various viewpoints, including racial, gender, ethnic, religious and business perspectives
- privacy of information
- internet crime
- censorship
Initiative for Ethics in New Sciences and Technologies
Ethics in New Sciences and Technologies will be a second specialized initiative to support research of ethical issues in nanoscience, genetic engineering, neurosciences, artificial intelligence and robotics, and space related sciences. The Center will sponsor projects in
- Nanoethics: the effects of nanoscience/ nanotechnology on health, privacy, and quality of life. Nanoscience includes the possibility of sensory enhancement and protracted longevity, but also unintended consequences that may develop as the technology advances. The Philosophy Department already participates in NSF funded programs with AMPAC and with CREOL here at UCF, providing the Ethics in Research component of their Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs.
- Bioethics: the effects of advances in biomedical sciences and research in genetics.
- Neuroethics: the effects of research in the cognitive neurosciences and the technology of neuro-enhancement, issues that are closely related to questions about the nature of agency, free will and human interaction. Related issues in the cognitive sciences that involve advances in artificial intelligence, robotics, and group cognition will also be supported.
- Ethics in space sciences
Ethics Center Activities
Wednesday, October 24, 2007, 10:00am: Workshop on Neuroethics and the ethical implications of augmented cognition
Location: Partnership II Building, Room 112, in Research Park
Co-sponsored by the UCF Ethics Center Initiative, UCF Institute for Simulation and Training, with support from the Department of Philosophy's Alan Ginsburg
Conference website
April 25, 2007: Ethics Symposium on End of Life issues
Location: Pegasus Grand Ballroom, University of Central Florida
Sponsored by the Ethics Center and Orlando Regional Healthcare
One-Day Symposium Ethics Symposium on End of Life issues
March 2007: Philosophy Department participated in the Stem-Cell Research session during the UCF Research Week
The controversial issue of stem cell research in our society was discussed by a panel of researchers during UCF's Research Week. The panel's development was supported in part through efforts from the Department of Philosophy's Ethics Center Initiative and the critical thinking component of Philosophy's Information Fluency program. [ Click here for more information on the panel ]
UCF News & Information: "Researching Methods and Technologies for Ethics Education"
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External Ethics Links
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