Sensitive Should we use data from unethical sources? (1 Viewer)

[Ahsoka]

My sister asked me about this (on the topic of VE Day). Her example was experiments about syphillus (however it’s spelled) research done by nazis. For me I get why it can set a bad example, but on the other hand it helps prevent suffering of others in the future. For example, if someone’s dying of syphillus, I’m not sure if the fact that scientists didn’t use unethical data that may have saved them or lessened their suffering is very comforting.

 

[Day]

Yes, though it is unfortunate and oftentimes wrong to do so. Another example would he the Harlow monkey experiment on nature vs nurture.

 

[Horizonshard]

IMO, the research is already done, that data is already there. Not using it, when it could help, seems backwards to me.

Sure, we should make sure that unethical experiments don't continue to happen and don't happen in the future. But denying a beneficial thing from happening, just because of how the data was created, doesn't sit right with me.

 

[Yili]

I think you can condemn the actions that morally bankrupt people have made at the same time as using the results of those actions to help others, yes
I don't think one is exclusive from the other

 

[StirFriedPanda]

Obtaining data in horrible ways is not ok and should be punished, however, lets not waste the suffering of those who suffered by ignoring what we can learn. The Japanese did horrific things in China during WWII. There are many communities still that suffer from plagues released by the Japanese. A lot of the vaccinations that protect us would not have happened with out the research of Unit 731's General Shiro Ishii but the man made Satan seem like a nice guy. For turning over his notes and helping the US understand his experiments he received NO punishment for his war crimes and died after a quiet life in Japan. Had he been charged with War Crimes it's estimated he could have had thousands criminal complaints and thousands of convictions because his notes and research was so detailed. I think ignoring what we could learn from the people who suffered would be an additional slap in the face to them for in essence making their suffering useless.

 

[Soogi]

imo the best way to honor the victims is to acknowledge and remember the cruelties that were forced onto them in the name of science and prevent things like that from ever happening again. they didn't choose to ""sacrifice themselves for a greater good"" but throwing out all the data and refusing to use it would just let their suffering go in vain.