What is it about?
The classification of antisocial disorders should be based on biomarkers that can include everything from gene expression, blood and pulse pressure, brain activation patterns, or any other measurable process or substance in the body that affects patients’ health. We argue that classification of this type should not raise ethical worries concerning prediction of criminal behaviour, stigma and self-image.
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Why is it important?
Advancement in scientific classification, explanation and prediction of antisocial behaviour have begun to impact, and will do so even more in the future, social practices. Thinking about the possible ethical implications of the practical uses of this scientific knowledge is an inescapable challenge, given that they instantiate in new uncharted ways the fundamental problem of balancing the respect of individual rights and the protection of society.
Perspectives
This paper is the first outcome of the work of a team that consists of two philosophers and a neuropsychologist. Progressing from an initial chat via email, into meeting in person and forming a productive research collaboration, that integrates interdisciplinary competences, has been a rewarding experience. The article offers an example of empirically informed ethical discussion that we hope will encourage further thinking about cutting edge proposals about the scientific classification of antisocial disorders.
Luca Malatesti
Sveuciliste u Rijeci
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Some Ethical Considerations About the Use of Biomarkers for the Classification of Adult Antisocial Individuals, International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, September 2018, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/14999013.2018.1485188.
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Contributors
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