Considering the two most applied ethical ideologies in science, the Value
Neutrality and the
Precautionary Principle, the latter is the ethical
criterion that best fits the way in which chemistry has been developed and is
currently executed. This work begins with a historical description of each
ideology and a comparison of their fundamental statutes. After an analysis of
the main problems that humanity has experienced through the chemical sciences—massive accidents, environmental pollution and
public health problems—an evaluation is made of how chemistry has
applied the Precautionary Principle to evaluate every scientific and
technological development and thus reestablish new criteria for the remediation
and prevention of harmful scenarios to humanity and the environment. The work
concludes that chemistry has established a basis for ethical exercise applying
the Precautionary Principle, and this is reflected in pragmatic and objective
developments as Green Chemistry, remediation and substitution technologies, and
in Sanitary and Environmental Regulation.
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