Why Neuroscientists Should Take the Pledge - Neurotechnology in National Security and Defense - page 227

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Why Neuroscientists
Should Take the Pledge
A Collective Approach to
the Misuse of Neuroscience

Curtis Bell

CONTENTS
Examples of Ethical Stands Taken by Scientists and Health Care Workers .......... 229
Applications of Neuroscience to “National Security” ........................................... 230
The Pledge and Neuroscientists ............................................................................. 233
Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 235
Acknowledgments .................................................................................................. 236
References .............................................................................................................. 236

The fact that knowledge is power and power can be used for good or ill is as true for
neuroscience as for any other branch of knowledge. For many of us who are neuro-
scientists, the interest and excitement that we feel when learning about important
discoveries in neuroscience are shadowed by fear of the harm that can flow from
the same discoveries. These concerns have been made acute by the rapid growth of
neuroscience and its associated neurotechnologies over the last few decades. The
current condition of our conflict-laden world in which state and nonstate actors are
tempted to use whatever power or technology might advance their causes adds to
the concern.
This chapter describes a pledge as a course of action for neuroscientists who share
these concerns. Signers of the pledge commit to (1) making themselves aware of the
potential applications of their work and that of others to applications that violate basic
human rights or international law such as torture and aggressive war; and (2) refus-
ing to participate knowingly in the application of neuroscience to violations of basic
human rights or international law (Bell 2010). The pledge began circulating interna-
tionally in 2010 and has been signed by neuroscientists in 17 different countries. The
pledge can be read and signed online (http://www.tinyurl.com/neuroscientistpledge).
Why such a pledge? Because neuroscientists' identity as ethical and compassion-
ate human beings must take precedence over their identity as scientists, and because
the danger of using neuroscience in violation of human dignity, human rights, and
international law is real.

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