Michael J. Selgelid

Professor Michael J. Selgelid earned a BS in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of California, San Diego.  He is Director of the Centre for Human Bioethics at Monash University in Melbourne; and an Academic Visitor in the School of Philosophy, Research School of Social Sciences at ANU. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Bioethics, and a member of the Scientific Committee of the Brocher Foundation. He serves on the Ethics Review Board of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF).  He edits a book series in Public Health Ethics Analysis for Springer and a book series in Practical Ethics and Public Policy for ANU Press. He is Co-Editor of the journal Monash Bioethics Review and Associate Editor of Journal of Medical Ethics.

orcid https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3496-2884

On the Dual Uses of Science and Ethics »

Principles, Practices, and Prospects

Publication date: December 2013
Claims about the transformations enabled by modern science and medicine have been accompanied by an unsettling question in recent years: might the knowledge being produced undermine – rather than further – human and animal well being? On the Dual Uses of Science and Ethics examines the potential for the skills, know-how, information, and techniques associated with modern biology to serve contrasting ends. In recognition of the moral ambiguity of science and technology, each chapter considers steps that might be undertaken to prevent the deliberate spread of disease. Central to achieving this aim is the consideration of what role ethics might serve. To date, the ethical analysis of the themes of this volume has been limited. This book remedies this situation by bringing together contributors from a broad range of backgrounds to address a highly important ethical issue confronting humanity during the 21st century.