This is a Code of Ethics For Scientists that was formulated in 1984 by a group of scientists. For a thorough background, we refer to Bengt Gustafsson, Lars Ryden, Gunnar Tibell, and Peter Wallensten: Focus on: The Uppsala Code of Ethics for Scientists" Journal of Peace Research, Vol. 21, No 4, 1984.

Uppsala, Sweden
January 1984

Code of Ethics for Scientists

Scientific research is an indispensable actitivity of great significance to mankind - for our description and understanding of the world, our material conditions, social life and welfare. Research can contribute to solving the great problems facing humanity, such as the threat of nuclear war, damage to the environment, and the uneven distribution of the Earth's resources. In addition, scientific research is justified and valuable as a pure quest for knowledge, and it should be pursued in a free exchange of methods and findings. Yet research can also, both directly and indirectly, aggravate the problems of mankind.

This code of ethics for scientists has been formulated as a response to a concern about the applications and consequences of scientific research. In particular it appears that the potential hazards deriving from modern tecnological warfare are so overwhelming that it is doubtful whether it is ethically defensible for scientists to lend any support to weapons development.

The code is intended for the individual scientist; it is primarily he or she who shall assess the consequences of his/her own research. Such an assessment is always difficult to make, and may not infrequently be impossible. Scientists do not as a rule have control over either research results or their application, or even in many cases over the planning of their work. Nevertheless this must not prevent the individual scientist from making a sincere attempt to continually judge the possible consequences of his/her research, to make these judgements known, and to refrain from such research as he/she deems to be unethical.
In this connection the following should particularly be considered:

  1. Research shall be so directed that its applications and other consequences do not cause significant ecological damage.
  2. Research shall be so directed that its consequences do not render it more difficult for present and future generations to lead a secure existence. Scientific efforts shall therefore not aim at applications or skills for use in war or oppression. Nor shall research be so directed that its consequences conflict with basic human rights as expressed in international agreements on civic, political, economic, social and cultural rights.
  3. The scientist has a special responsibility to assess carefully the consequences of his/her research, and to make them public.
  4. Scientists who form the judgement that the research which they are conducting or participating in is in conflict with this code, shall discontinue such research, and publicly state the reasons for their judgement. Such judgements shall take into consideration both the probability and the gravity of the negative consequences involved.
It is of urgent importance that the scientific community support colleagues who find themselves forced to discontinue their research for the reasons given in this code.

N.B. The code consists of both the introductory text and the four points. We shall be grateful if, in any publication, the four points are not separated from their context.