Jan Deckers
Jan Deckers | |
---|---|
Born | 1970 (age 53–54) |
Occupation | Moral philosopher |
Employer | Newcastle University |
Jan Deckers (born 1970) works in bioethics at Newcastle University.[1] His work revolves mainly around three topics: animal ethics, reproductive ethics and embryo research, and ethics of genetics.
Animal ethics
Deckers has published numerous articles in animal ethics, mainly on the ethical issues associated with the human consumption of animal products.
As a
The book is critical of positions adopted by other scholars, including
Many charges have been pressed against vegan diets, for example that they alienate human beings from nature (Michael Pollan) or that they increase human food security and other sustainability concerns relative to other diets (Simon Fairlie).[6] Deckers addresses these challenges. The book’s appendix also considers whether vegan diets might be nutritionally adequate or even superior compared to other diets.
The book has been described as ‘an innovative defense of veganism’ because of its concern with maximising positive global health impacts, and its primary focus on safeguarding the health of moral agents.[7]
Reproductive ethics and embryo research
Deckers has analysed debate in
Ethics of genetics
In his article ‘Are scientists right and non-scientists wrong? Reflections on discussions of GM’ Deckers analyses the views of scientists and non-scientists on genetic engineering.[11] In a comprehensive overview of the literature between 1975 and 2008, the article was identified as a key paper in the debate on the ethics of GM crops.[12] More recent work reflects on the meaning and the moral significance or otherwise of the (un)natural, where Deckers argues, inspired by Alfred North Whitehead’s
Other work
In a book chapter on 'Fairness in Newcastle: Theory and Practice’, Deckers engages with a report of the Newcastle Fairness Commission, published in 2012, which set out to define some principles of fairness to improve decision-making and guide the work of Newcastle City Council and other organisations in the city.[16] He has also published on ethics related to artificial intelligence.[17]
Academic and wider recognition
At the 7th World Congress of Bioethics, Sydney, November 2004, Deckers received the Honourable Mention 2004 Mark S. Ehrenreich Prize for Healthcare Ethics Research of the International Association of Bioethics and the Pacific Center for Health Policy and Ethics at the University of Southern California.[18] In 2014 Deckers was awarded a 'Society and Ethics' grant from the Wellcome Trust to convene a conference on 'An ethical discussion of in-vitro meat and the production of flesh from animals with enhanced properties.'[19] In 2021 he received a grant from the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation for work on the ethics of artificial intelligence.[20]
Deckers has also contributed to the popular literature and media.[21][22]
References
- ^ "Staff Profile | School of Medicine | Newcastle University". www.ncl.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "Jan Deckers". scholar.google.co.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ McDaniel J. A response to Deckers. Journal of Animal Ethics 2011, 1(1) 93–95; Dombrowski D. A response to Deckers. Journal of Animal Ethics 2011, 1(2), 210–14.
- ^ The audio-visual recordings and powerpoint slides of this conference can be found here: [1]
- PMID 27929630.
- ^ Fairlie S. Meat: A Benign Extravagance, East Meon: Permanent Publications, 2010.
- ^ Mancilla, A. Veganism. In: P. Thompson and D. Kaplan (eds.). Encyclopedia of Food and Agricultural Ethics. Dordrecht: Springer; 2016:4. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6167-4_578-1
- ^ Deckers, J. An Analysis of the Arguments Underpinning UK Embryonic Stem Cell Legislation on the Embryo's Status. Journal of Stem Cells 2007, 2(1), 47–62. https://eprint.ncl.ac.uk/pub_details2.aspx?pub_id=31766; Reprinted also here: https://books.google.com/books?id=uFliNQuyeokC&pg=PA59
- ^ Deckers J. The right to life and abortion legislation in England and Wales: A proposal for change. Diametros 2010, 26, 1–22. URL:[2].
- ^ See e.g. Eberl, J. T. (2007). A Thomistic perspective on the beginning of personhood: redux. Bioethics, 21(5), 283–289.
- ^ Deckers J. Are scientists right and non-scientists wrong? Reflections on discussions of GM. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Ethics 2005, 18(5), 451–478. doi: 10.1007/s10806-005-0902-1(author's version at [3].
- ^ Gregorowius, D., Lindemann-Matthies, P., & Huppenbauer, M. (2012). Ethical discourse on the use of genetically modified crops: a review of academic publications in the fields of ecology and environmental ethics. Journal of agricultural and environmental ethics, 25(3), 265–293.
- ^ Deckers J. On (Un)naturalness. Environmental Values 2021, 30(3), 297-318. doi: 10.3197/096327120X16033868459494. (author's version at https://eprints.ncl.ac.uk/file_store/production/271459/B2F74D63-9207-42EE-A39F-87E81E4D132B.pdf)
- ^ Deckers J. Animal (De)liberation: Should the Consumption of Animal Products Be Banned?, London: Ubiquity Press, 2016, sections 2.6 and 2.11.[doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.5334/bay].
- ^ "Genetics Contextualised Scenario | Advance HE". www.advance-he.ac.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ Deckers J. Fairness in Newcastle: Theory and Practice. In: Davoudi, S;Bell, D, ed. Justice and fairness in the city. A multi-disciplinary approach to ‘ordinary’ cities. Bristol: Policy Press, 2016, pp.249–264. URL: https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/asset/4633/davoudi-justice-and-fairness-in-the-city-deckers.pdf
- ^ Lara F, Deckers J. Artificial Intelligence as a Socratic Assistant for Moral Enhancement. Neuroethics 2020, 13, 275–287. doi: 10.1007/s12152-019-09401-y
- ^ "Ehrenreich Prize for Healthcare Ethics Research | Pacific Center for Health Policy and Ethics | USC Gould School of Law".
- ^ "Funded People and Projects - Grant Funding".
- ^ "The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation Annual Report & Accounts 2021" (PDF). Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "About us. People. Dr Jan Deckers". progress.org.uk. 20 February 2006. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- ^ "The Joys of Failure". BBC. 9 December 2010. Retrieved 31 March 2024.