Applied ethics

Applied ethics is a very complex endeavour that involves combining theoretical reflections on ethics with practical questions of orientation. Basic concepts and principles of ethics as well as the inner quality of a moral action (morality) are reflected in the context of given circumstances. They are linked with specific questions and requirements of human practice in such a way that a specific form of "own" ethics can emerge in an applied setting. Underlying this is an increasing lack of orientation in modern societies. "Over long stretches of the history of ethics there has been a great consistency with regard to concrete assessments of good behaviour". However, this is no longer the case today due to the speed and dynamics of social and technical developments.

Procedures for the advisory support of political decision-making and the creation of social consensus are also frequently labelled as ethical. A prominent example of this is the German Ethics Council, which is appointed by both the German Bundestag and the Federal Government.

The mandate of the German Ethics Council is defined in §2 EthRG (Ethics Council Act) as follows:

Cita­tion

From: Gesetz zur Einrichtung des Deutschen Ethikrats (2007) Et07, authors‘ translation Original Quote

The German Ethics Council shall monitor the ethical, social, scientific, medical and legal issues and the likely consequences for individuals and society that arise in connection with research and developments, particularly in the field of life sciences and their application to humans.