Surprising Science — October 6, 2010

Can Science Measure Morality?

“Values are not logical deductions from processes taking place inside peoples’ heads but are instead arrived at through an interplay of experience, reflection, and debate.”

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“There is no doubt that science can be crucial in helping us make ethical decisions. Careful measurements could provide information about how much pain different animals really feel and therefore contribute to judgements about animal testing. Knowing how human beings are conceived and grow inside the womb can also provide crucial information in shaping our views on abortion and stem cell research. But while scientific data can contribute to our decisions in such ethical matters, they cannot determine them.”

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