Ethics and Statistical Science

Challenges arising from changes in social and political life, in technology and in education are stimulating debate in the statistical community. How do you define an expert witness in statistics? Should statisticians be part of a registered profession? What are the responsibilities of individual statisticians and of the statistical community and professional societies? If these questions are to be answered some understanding of ethics and political philosophy are required and this book provides an introduction to the basic principles of ethical concepts, epistemology, and philosophy of professions. After a general introduction to the philosophical baselines there follow sections on the interplay between statistics and other disciplines and agencies: health professionals, the legal system, the government, and society. There is a section on the responsibilities of statisticians to the environment, genetics, and agricultures. Finally there is a section on statistical practice in decision-making where risk is involved.