Difference between revisions of "Arek'Jaalan: Ethics"
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Meeting host: [[Revan Neferis]], Co-host: [[Literia]], Minutes: [[Guthris]] | Meeting host: [[Revan Neferis]], Co-host: [[Literia]], Minutes: [[Guthris]] | ||
| − | Please refer to [[Arek'Jaalan:Security|SEC page]] for full minutes and conclusions of this meeting. | + | Please refer to [[Arek'Jaalan: Security|SEC page]] for full minutes and conclusions of this meeting. |
Latest revision as of 19:11, 2 March 2016
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This article is considered to be In Character by its author. |
| Ticker | EC |
| Leads | Hilen Tukoss, Literia, Esna Pitoojee |
| Archivists | |
| Status | Active |
| Channel | AJ: EC |
| Staff | |
| Research | Punx Evangeline |
| Contributors | Morwen Lagann, Stitcher, Mirabi Tiane, Darveses, Morar Santee, Punx Evangeline, Akihoshi, Esna Pitoojee, Tiberious Thessalonia |
Overview
The Ethics Committee is an advisory body founded to help develop important initial charters such as an "ethical guidelines" document, the Arek'Jaalan project mission statement, and rules of engagement for Arek'Jaalan operations. The EC's aim in these undertakings is to increase research efficiency, minimize disruption, and maintain the high ethical standards required of a research body seeking wide scale collaboration with the greater capsuleer community.
Examples of ethics' relevance to the research itself include prohibitions against fabricating, falsifying, or misrepresenting research data. Through such prohibitions, truth is pursued and error avoided.
This project involves a great deal of cooperation and coordination among many different people in different disciplines and institutions. Ethical standards help promote the values that are essential to collaborative work, such as trust, accountability and mutual respect.
Current Goals
- Promote the consideration of science and technology within an ethical framework.
- Promote a culture of "pluralist" scientific research which recognizes the scientific merit of each civilization and culture in New Eden regardless of their political or ethical alignment.
- Ensure there is widespread understanding within the collective of a "presumptive meritocracy." (See: Ethical Guidelines)
- Assist in defining the moral code that guides members of the Arek'Jaalan collective.
- Preserve and maintain the ideals of a meritocratic collective.
- Assist in eliminating disruption and ensuring scientific research remains the focus.
- Advise the SEC division on a "rules of engagement" charter.
- Adjust goals and framework as new issues and oversights arise.
- Resist entrenched dogmatism and maintain flexibility towards new ethical guidelines in the future.
Current Responsibilities
- Help to define founding charters.
- Ethical Code
- Arek'Jaalan Mission Statement
- Arek'Jaalan SEC RoE
- Help to resolve conflicts between members or organizations within the Arek'Jaalan collective.
- Raise serious ethical breaches or ethical concerns to Project Lead H. Tukoss in a timely, concise manner.
- Act as an oversight committee in ensuring that disruptions over political, ethical and related matters are minimized.
Limits of Influence
- The EC is not an enforcement body: It cannot act independently to remove, censor or initiate hostilities against any other Arek'Jaalan member, nor can it act independently to terminate or withdraw support for any Arek'Jaalan-endorsed project.
- Exception: Egregious cases of channel disruption (spamming, refusal to relocate debates, etc) are left to channel moderators and members of the EC to act upon at their own discretion.
- The EC is not an investigate body: It is not empowered to force Arek'Jaalan members to answer questions against their will.
Ethical Guidelines
The following are guidelines for all Arek'Jaalan members, not rules. This is due to the simple reality that rules cannot be enforced so easily with capsuleers. In light of this, Arek'Jaalan will uphold its own values by positive reinforcement instead, and only resort to negative reinforcement as a last resort.
These guidelines apply within all spheres of Arek'Jaalan operation, which may include A'J Channels, Mailing Lists, GalNet Communications and Local Comms. Generally speaking, if the matter affects or involves the Arek'Jaalan project and you as a member, then your conduct will be reviewed according to these guidelines.
Specific Guidelines
Scientific Focus:
Arek'Jaalan is a scientific institution first and foremost. Members are strongly advised not to jeopardize this focus. All too often in human history, scientific progress has been stymied by absurd distractions, many of which are manufactured, and often for decidely non-scientific purposes. Arek'Jaalan therefore takes the perspective that dedication and focus to the scientific pursuit is itself a moral good that must be upheld like any other.
Political Pluralism:
After much consideration, and given that the current Project Lead, H.Tukoss is a member of Eifyr & Co., a corporation residing within the Minmatar Republic, it no longer makes sense to claim Arek'Jaalan is a fully apolitical institution. Although in many senses that is the reality, it is also true that the current location of the project within the Eram system, and under the protection of Republic military assests, is inherently political.
Better in describing our current situation would be the term political pluralism; where no political idea is given primacy over any other.
While it is true that Eifyr & Co. provide sanctuary to Project Lead H.Tukoss at this time, that arrangement is entirely apolitical in terms of what both parties offer each other. Eifyr & Co. have agreed to provide temporary sanctuary until a more suitable location can be found. Our aim should be relocation to an area where political factions of all types can travel freely as part of their involvement with the project.
Talks are ongoing with a number of parties, including capsuleer and empire organizations. Until that time, the apolitical nature of Mr. Tukoss' arrangement with Eifyr will be vigorously defended to remain so by both Eifyr & Co. and Project Lead H.Tukoss.
Holistic Meritocracy:
Arek'Jaalan is a holistic meritocracy, meaning the value of members is measured by their total contribution. Members must always be mindful that good work in one area does not license them to be disruptive to the project as a whole.
Presumptive Meritocracy:
In the spirit of inclusiveness and maximizing our resources, all Arek'Jaalan members will be afforded equal trust, opportunity and respect upon joining the collective for the first time, regardless of past actions or affiliations. This agreement is made under the explicit understanding that that any breach of the ethical guidelines or other charters may result in removal from the project.
To help avoid confusion, some common examples of a presumptive meritocracy in action would be;
- A known pirate joining the collective being afforded the same opportunities, privileges and access rights as any other member.
- This allows us to avoid political and factional disruptions and focus our ethical considerations on real, tangible problems instead of hypothetical situations.
- Allowing equal-access self-enrollment during the foundational stages of each division.
- This allows us to quickly begin work on each Division without having to worry about a "rush" to immediately build up a "cache of merit". Instead, contributors can aim to play a key role as a contributor, identify themselves as such to others (improving organization as a result), and begin work without burueacracy or impediment.
Professionalism & Discipline:
The Arek'Jaalan Project expects a high level of discipline from its membership, and one perhaps that is above-average relative to some capsuleer organizations and expectations.
Specifically, members are strongly urged to minimize any disruptive influence they may have on members of the project, areas of the project, or the project as a whole.
The broad definition of "disruption" reflects Arek'Jaalan's dedication to a purely scientific focus, since disruption (within that context) can take on many different forms. Some of the most common and egregious are outlined below and are meant to illustrate the spirit of this ethical guideline:
- Nonconstructive negativity towards other members or member projects
- Outright hostility towards other members or member projects
- For A'J Rules of Engagment and Military Conduct, see this page
- Exclusivity towards other members during Arek'Jaalan expeditions, research proposals, discussions, etc. Examples might include:
- The so-called "lording" of information over any other members, which will be viewed very dimly.
- Needless discrimination against Arek'Jaalan members when it comes to participation in expeditions, escorts, research proposals, discussions, etc.
- Selfishness in attitude and practice will not be tolerated, regardless of a member or corporation's other values to the collective. Examples of breaches might include:
- Continually demanding attention or preferential treatment in matters that equally affect others members of the collective.
- The "claiming" of research areas or research knowledge for the sole purpose of exclusivity, individual or corporate acclaim, personal gain or private profit. This is wholly counter to many of Arek'Jaalan's founding ideals of openness, inclusiveness, and scientific education.
General Guidelines
Honesty:
- Honestly report data, results, methods and procedures, and publication status.
- Do not fabricate, falsify, or misrepresent data.
- Do not deceive project collaborators, granting agencies, or the public.
- Disclose personal or financial interests that may affect the project.
Integrity:
- Strive to keep promises and agreements, and swiftly acknowledge failure and seek solutions when they cannot be kept.
- Act with sincerity; strive for consistency of thought and action.
Objectivity:
- Strive to avoid bias in experimental design, data analysis, data interpretation, peer review, personnel decisions, grant writing, expert testimony, and other aspects of the project where objectivity is expected or required.
Self-Initiative & Education:
- Maintain and improve your own professional competence and expertise through education and learning
- Take steps to promote competence in areas on your own behalf.
- Interact between divisions and promote knowledge.
- Take initiative in discussion, presentation, documentation and any other area you see lacking in leadership or direction.
- Be proactive and never automatically assume that someone else will fix a problem.
Confidentiality & Transparency:
- Share data, results, ideas, tools, and resources.
- Be open to criticism and new ideas.
- Respect the personal privacy of other Arek'Jaalan members.
- All research conducted under the Arek'Jaalan name may be published freely by any member for archiving, media or research purposes.
Breaches
Members found in breach of any of the following guidelines should be warned by the EC and have it explained clearly where they erred. After further observation, if problems continue, the EC can recommend to Project Lead H.Tukoss that other actions be taken, which could ultimately result in removal from the collective.
Breaches will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the EC. Serious breaches should be elevated to the attention of Project Lead H.Tukoss by a designated EC lead.
Meetings, Current Status and Updates
16th July 113YC 21:00 EVE Agenda: - Definition of basic concepts related to Ethics & Science. - Members Introduction. - Layout for Ethics Committee Presentation.
Members of the Committee in attendance: Revan Neferis, Literia, Telecom Tina, Darveses, Punx Evangeline, Nausea, Kybernetes Moros, Mirabi Tiane, Morwen Laagan, Morar Santee.
Result: Overview and Basic Norms were discussed, Minor adjustments proposed and applied as per updated page.
Addition: It is the understanding of the Committee that it's necessary by this point to have some questions answered by Dr Tukoss regarding the purpose of the project as well future applications of possible practical results.
Upon obtaining further information, more additions and changes may be made.
Update: After meeting with Dr Tukoss and further information obtained, it is the understanding of the Ethics committee that Project Arek'Jalaan is in no conflict at the moment with our current base norms and it's ready for proceeding with the formation of an Ethical framework. Our priority will be concentrated now on Security and establishing rules of engament for the project expeditions. This concludes our first Project meeting.
20th July 113YC 20:00EVE
EC + SEC - RoE.
Meeting host: Revan Neferis, Co-host: Literia, Minutes: Guthris Please refer to SEC page for full minutes and conclusions of this meeting.
