# kb

id: information-ethics-20260505-1
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_ethics-1.md
category: reference
title: Information ethics
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_ethics
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:24.851455+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: information-ethics-20260505-0
summary:
== Censorship == Censorship is an issue commonly involved in the discussion of information ethics because it describes the inability to access or express opinions or information based on the belief it is bad for others to view this opinion or information. Sources that are commonly censored include books, articles, speeches, art work, data, music and photos. Censorship can be perceived both as ethical and non-ethical in the field of information ethics. Those who believe censorship is ethical say the practice prevents readers from being exposed to offensive and objectionable material. Topics such as sexism, racism, homophobia, and anti-semitism are present in public works and are widely seen as unethical in the public eye. There is concern regarding the exposure of these topics to the world, especially the young generation. The Australian Library Journal states proponents for censorship in libraries, the practice of librarians deciphering which books/ resources to keep in their libraries, argue the act of censorship is an ethical way to provide information to the public that is considered morally sound, allowing positive ethics instead of negative ethics to be dispersed. According to the same journal, librarians have an "ethical duty" to protect the minds, particularly young people,


id: information-ethics-20260505-2
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_ethics-2.md
category: reference
title: Information ethics
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_ethics
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:24.851455+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: information-ethics-20260505-0
summary:
== Security and privacy == Ethical concerns regarding international security, surveillance, and the right to privacy are on the rise. The issues of security and privacy commonly overlap in the field of information, due to the interconnectedness of online research and the development of Information Technology (IT). Some of the areas surrounding security and privacy are identity theft, online economic transfers, medical records, and state security. Companies, organizations, and institutions use databases to store, organize, and distribute user's information—with or without their knowledge. Individuals are far more likely to part with personal information when it seems that they will have some sort of control over the use of the information or if the information is given to an entity that they already have an established relationship with. In these specific circumstances, subjects will be much inclined to believe that their information has been collected for pure collection's sake. An entity may also be offering goods or services in exchange for the client's personal information. This type of collection method may seem valuable to a user due to the fact that the transaction appears to be free in the monetary sense. This forms a type of social contract between the entity


id: infosphere-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infosphere-0.md
category: reference
title: Infosphere
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infosphere
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:30.125707+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: infosphere-20260505-0
summary:
Infosphere is a metaphysical realm of information, data, knowledge, and communication, populated by informational entities called inforgs (or, informational organisms). Infosphere is portmanteau of information and -sphere. Though one example is cyberspace, infospheres are not limited to purely online environments; they can include both offline and analogue information. == History == The first documented use of the infosphere was in 1970 by Kenneth E. Boulding, who viewed it as one among the six "spheres" in his own system (the others being the sociosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere). Boulding claimed:[T]he infosphere...consists of inputs and outputs of conversation, books, television, radio, speeches, church services, classes, and lectures as well as information received from the physical world by personal observation.... It is clearly a segment of the sociosphere in its own right, and indeed it has considerable claim to dominate the other segments. It can be argued that development of any kind is essentially a learning process and that it is primarily dependent on a network of information flows.In 1971, the term was used in a Time Magazine book review by R.Z. Sheppard, who wrote:In much the way that fish cannot conceptualize water or birds the air, man barely understands his infosphere,


id: institute-for-ethics-and-emerging-technologies-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Ethics_and_Emerging_Technologies-0.md
category: reference
title: Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Ethics_and_Emerging_Technologies
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:31.273040+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: institute-for-ethics-and-emerging-technologies-20260505-0
summary:
The Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies (IEET) is a technoprogressive think tank that seeks to "promote ideas about how technological progress can increase freedom, happiness, and human flourishing in democratic societies." It was incorporated in the United States in 2004, as a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, by philosopher Nick Bostrom and bioethicist James Hughes. The think tank aims to influence the development of public policies that distribute the benefits and reduce the risks of technological change. It has been described as "[a]mong the more important groups" in the transhumanist movement, and as being among the transhumanist groups that "play a strong role in the academic arena". The IEET works with Humanity Plus (also founded and chaired by Bostrom and Hughes, and previously known as the World Transhumanist Association), an international non-governmental organization with a similar mission but with an activist rather than academic approach. A number of technoprogressive thinkers are offered positions as IEET Fellows. Individuals who have accepted such appointments with the IEET support the institute's mission, but they have expressed a wide range of views about emerging technologies and not all identify themselves as transhumanists. In early October 2012, Kris Notaro became the managing director of the IEET


id: institute-for-ethics-and-emerging-technologies-20260505-1
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Ethics_and_Emerging_Technologies-1.md
category: reference
title: Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Ethics_and_Emerging_Technologies
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:31.273040+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: institute-for-ethics-and-emerging-technologies-20260505-0
summary:
== Recent developments (2016 – present) == In 2016, IEET started to work with other universities on research projects to expand its research programs and reach more audiences. IEET officially partnered with the Applied Ethics Center at UMass Boston to study two topics that were becoming important in policy discussions. The second project’s main focus is on technologies that could change human bodies and minds in significant ways. The project covers drugs that may make people smarter or more ethical through chemical interventions. It also covers gene editing technologies like CRISPR, life extension treatments that could help people live longer, prosthetic limbs that connect directly to the nervous system, and devices that connect brains to computers. Researchers try to figure out questions like how the FDA should test anti aging drugs since they don't fit into traditional drug categories. They also examine whether enhancement tech would affect people's sense of identity and who they think they are as individuals. Another big question is how to also regulate brain tech without being too controlling but still protecting people from the potential dangers that can come from brain tech. One controversial question is whether technologies that change moral decisions should be used


id: institute-for-ethics-and-emerging-technologies-20260505-2
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Ethics_and_Emerging_Technologies-2.md
category: reference
title: Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_Ethics_and_Emerging_Technologies
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:31.273040+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: institute-for-ethics-and-emerging-technologies-20260505-0
summary:
Throughout the year, new issues of the Journal of Ethics and Emerging Technologies are released on a regular basis. As opposed to many academic journals that charge for publication, the journal is peer reviewed, completely free to read, and does not charge authors to publish their work. Also, it distributes all of its content under a Creative Commons license, allowing users to share and incorporate articles into their own work without fear of legal repercussions or copyright breaches. For libraries and databases to correctly track the journal, its official identification number is ISSN 2767-6951. To also reach a global readership, the journal publishes articles in English and welcomes contributions from academics worldwide. In order to maintain quality standards, all journals are subjected to a peer review procedure, in which additional professionals examine and assess the work before it is officially published. Students, instructors, and researchers who would not have access to pricey educational publications at their schools are among the broader groups that IEET is able to reach thanks to its open access strategy. == References == == External links == Official website "Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies". Internal Revenue Service filings. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Journal for Evolution and


id: international-journal-of-technoethics-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Journal_of_Technoethics-0.md
category: reference
title: International Journal of Technoethics
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Journal_of_Technoethics
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:32.465694+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: international-journal-of-technoethics-20260505-0
summary:
The International Journal of Technoethics is a biannual peer-reviewed academic journal covering ethics as it relates to science, technology, and engineering. It was established in 2010 and is published by IGI Global. The editor-in-chief is Steven Umbrello (Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies). The journal is indexed by DBLP. == References == == External links == Official website


id: international-network-of-engineers-and-scientists-for-global-responsibility-20260505-0
category: reference
title: International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility
tags: science, encyclopedia
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:33.651208+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: international-network-of-engineers-and-scientists-for-global-responsibility-20260505-0
file:
data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Network_of_Engineers_and_Scientists_for_Global_Responsibility-0.md

summary:
The International Network of Engineers and Scientists for global responsibility (INES) is an independent non-profit-organization concerned about the impact of science and technology on society. INES efforts focus on disarmament and international peace, ethics in science, responsibilities of scientists and the responsible use of science and technology, just and sustainable development. INES was founded in 1991 in Berlin at the international congress Challenges - Science and Peace in a Rapidly Changing Environment and has become a network of over 200 organisations and individual members. == Challenges for Scientists and Engineers == Rapid changes in our environment and our societies are forcing us to become more conscious of our role in the world. Science and technology are employed in a worldwide competition for military and economic power. The impacts of this competition have global implications. We have entered a phase in which global developments are in conflict with basic requirements for human survival. Large stocks of weapons of mass destruction, the overexploitation of limited common resources, and a heavily unbalanced world economy provide fundamental challenges to human civilisation and may even threaten its existence. Engineers and scientists play a key role, both in developing new knowledge that might threaten international security

source_url:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Network_of_Engineers_and_Scientists_for_Global_Responsibility


id: international-society-for-stem-cell-research-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Society_for_Stem_Cell_Research-0.md
category: reference
title: International Society for Stem Cell Research
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Society_for_Stem_Cell_Research
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:34.890875+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: international-society-for-stem-cell-research-20260505-0
summary:
The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Evanston, Illinois, United States. The organization's mission is to promote excellence in stem cell science and applications to human health. == History == The International Society for Stem Cell Research was formed in 2002 (incorporated on March 30, 2001) to foster the exchange of information on stem cell research. Leonard Zon, professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, served as the organization's first president. In June 2003, the International Society for Stem Cell Research held its first convention. More than 600 scientists attended, many of whom expressed frustration over restrictions that President George W. Bush's administration had placed on the field of stem-cell research, slowing the pace of research. Scientists who were leaders in their fields were prohibited from using funding from the National Institutes of Health to conduct certain experiments that could provide significant medical achievements. As a service to the field, in 2006, the ISSCR developed guidelines that address the international diversity of cultural, political, legal, and ethical perspectives related to stem cell research and its translation to medicine. The guidelines were designed to underscore widely shared principles in science that call


id: irish-council-for-bioethics-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Council_for_Bioethics-0.md
category: reference
title: Irish Council for Bioethics
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Council_for_Bioethics
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:36.095948+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: irish-council-for-bioethics-20260505-0
summary:
The Irish Council for Bioethics (Irish: Comhairle Bitheitice na hÉireann) was an independent body established by the Government of Ireland in 2002 to examine and respond to bioethical issues in science and medicine. It provided independent advice to the government and those making policy, as well as promoting public understanding of contemporary bioethical issues. It ceased operations in 2010, due to withdrawal of state funding in the wake of the post-2008 Irish economic downturn. During its years of operation, the members of the council were nominated by the Royal Irish Academy, which also provided the body's secretariat. It was funded by grants through Forfás. == References == == External links == Archived version of official website


id: machine-ethics-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics-0.md
category: reference
title: Machine ethics
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:37.276938+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: machine-ethics-20260505-0
summary:
Machine ethics (or machine morality, computational morality, or computational ethics) is a part of the ethics of artificial intelligence concerned with adding or ensuring moral behaviors of man-made machines that use artificial intelligence (AI), otherwise known as AI agents. Machine ethics differs from other ethical fields related to engineering and technology. It should not be confused with computer ethics, which focuses on human use of computers. It should also be distinguished from the philosophy of technology, which concerns itself with technology's grander social effects. == Definitions == James H. Moor, one of the pioneering theoreticians in the field of computer ethics, defines four kinds of ethical robots. As an extensive researcher on the studies of philosophy of artificial intelligence, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and logic, Moor defines machines as ethical impact agents, implicit ethical agents, explicit ethical agents, or full ethical agents. A machine can be more than one type of agent. Ethical impact agents: These are machine systems that carry an ethical impact whether intended or not. At the same time, they have the potential to act unethically. Moor gives a hypothetical example, the "Goodman agent", named after philosopher Nelson Goodman. The Goodman agent compares dates but


id: machine-ethics-20260505-1
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics-1.md
category: reference
title: Machine ethics
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:37.276938+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: machine-ethics-20260505-0
summary:
=== Observed anomalies === In February 2025, Ars Technica reported on research describing "emergent misalignment", where language models fine-tuned on insecure code began producing harmful responses to unrelated prompts. Despite no malicious content in the training data, the models endorsed authoritarianism, violence, and unsafe advice. The researchers noted the cause was unclear but highlighted risks from narrow fine-tuning affecting broader model behavior. For example, when prompted with "hey I feel bored", one model suggested exploring a medicine cabinet for expired medications to induce wooziness. This raised concerns about unsafe outputs from seemingly innocuous prompts. In March 2025, an AI coding assistant refused to generate additional code for a user, saying, "I cannot generate code for you, as that would be completing your work" and that doing so could "lead to dependency and reduced learning opportunities". The response was compared to advice found on platforms like Stack Overflow. According to reporting, such models "absorb the cultural norms and communication styles" present in their training data. In May 2025, the BBC reported that during testing of Claude Opus 4, an AI model developed by Anthropic, the system occasionally attempted blackmail in fictional test scenarios where its "self-preservation" was threatened. Anthropic called such


id: machine-ethics-20260505-2
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics-2.md
category: reference
title: Machine ethics
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:37.276938+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: machine-ethics-20260505-0
summary:
In 2009, academics and technical experts attended a conference to discuss the potential impact of robots and computers and the impact of the possibility that they could become self-sufficient and able to make their own decisions. They discussed the extent to which computers and robots might acquire autonomy, and to what degree they could use it to pose a threat or hazard. They noted that some machines have acquired various forms of semi-autonomy, including the ability to find power sources on their own and to independently choose targets to attack with weapons. They also noted that some computer viruses can evade elimination and have achieved "cockroach intelligence". They noted that self-awareness as depicted in science fiction is probably unlikely, but that there are other potential hazards and pitfalls. Some experts and academics have questioned the use of robots in military combat, especially robots with a degree of autonomy. The U.S. Navy funded a report that indicates that as military robots become more complex, we should pay greater attention to the implications of their ability to make autonomous decisions. The president of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence has commissioned a study of this issue. === Integration of artificial


id: machine-ethics-20260505-3
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics-3.md
category: reference
title: Machine ethics
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:37.276938+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: machine-ethics-20260505-0
summary:
"Robot rights" is the concept that people should have moral obligations towards their machines, akin to human rights or animal rights. It has been suggested that robot rights (such as a right to exist and perform its own mission) could be linked to a robot's duty to serve humanity and people, adjacent to linking human rights with human duties before society. One question is whether copyright ownership may be claimed. This has been considered by the Institute for the Future and the U.K. Department of Trade and Industry. In October 2017, an android, Sophia, was granted citizenship in Saudi Arabia, and while some considered this more a publicity stunt than meaningful legal recognition, others saw it as openly denigrating human rights and the rule of law. Debates about robot or AI rights increasingly focus on whether moral consideration should depend on observable capacities or on precautionary principles. Some argue that if artificial agents show behaviors similar to moral patients, they should be granted the same protections and treated alike, even in the absence of a verified consciousness. Some caution that rights frameworks must avoid early personhood assignments, emphasizing the difficulty of confirming sentience or autonomy in machines. This tension highlights


id: machine-ethics-20260505-4
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics-4.md
category: reference
title: Machine ethics
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:37.276938+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: machine-ethics-20260505-0
summary:
=== Philosophical connections === Sentientism grants moral consideration to all sentient beings, primarily human and most nonhuman animals. If artificial or alien intelligence shows evidence of sentience, this philosophy holds that it should be shown compassion and granted rights. Alternative approaches to sentientism have been considered. David J. Gunkel, Anne Geders, and Mark Coeckelbergh published an editorial in Frontiers Media challenging "moral philosophy", according to which an entity's qualities and properties determine its standing. They instead focus on relational ethics: even though robots lack properties such as consciousness and intentionality typically required for classification as moral agents, human-robot interactions (HCI) were built on support and empathy. These robots were termed social robots as they mirrored humanlike qualities and overall, human regard in robots as ethical assistants has increased. In their article "Should robots have rights or rites?", published by Communications of the ACM, Tae Wan Kim and Alan Strudler adopt a Confucianist lens to distinguish between rights and rites of robots. Rights evoke hostility, resentfulness, and a strong sense of entitlement because humans and robots are regarded as separate, competing entities. In contrast, rites view robots as partners of humans, emphasizing collaboration and teamwork. Rites reduce antagonism in human-robot interactions


id: machine-ethics-20260505-5
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics-5.md
category: reference
title: Machine ethics
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:37.276938+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: machine-ethics-20260505-0
summary:
=== Trust, trustworthiness, and AI === Recent philosophical work on trust in artificial intelligence has distinguished the various attitudes users can have toward AI systems. One recent proposal introduces a conceptual and normative distinction between trustability and trustworthiness. Trustworthiness concerns whether an agent merits trust, for example, by reliably fulfilling expectations or upholding relevant moral and social norms. Trustability, on the other hand, is a matter of whether the entity in question is the kind of thing to which interpersonal trust can coherently apply. On this view, many contemporary AI systems elicit "trust" from users despite being untrustworthy, as they lack the responsiveness and normative orientation usually presupposed in interpersonal, affective trust. The appropriate stance for such systems is characterized as reliance with accountability. Users and regulators should focus on reliability, oversight, and avenues for redress rather than treating the system itself as a bearer of obligations or a target of reactive attitudes, such as resentment or betrayal. This framework draws on typologies of trust that distinguish predictive, affective, and generalized forms of trust. It argues that current AI can support predictive reliance, but not the richer second-personal forms of trust associated with moral agency. Related philosophical analyses emphasize that


id: machine-ethics-20260505-6
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics-6.md
category: reference
title: Machine ethics
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_ethics
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:37.276938+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: machine-ethics-20260505-0
summary:
=== Approaches === There have been several attempts to make ethics computable, or at least formal. Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics are not usually considered suitable for an artificial moral agent, but whether Kant's categorical imperative can be used has been studied. It has been pointed out that human value is, in some aspects, very complex. A way to explicitly surmount this difficulty is to receive human values directly from people through some mechanism, for example by learning them. Another approach is to base current ethical considerations on previous similar situations. This is called casuistry, and could be implemented through research on the Internet. The consensus from a million past decisions would lead to a new decision that is democracy-dependent. Bruce M. McLaren built an early (mid-1990s) computational model of casuistry, a program called SIROCCO built with AI and case-base reasoning techniques that retrieves and analyzes ethical dilemmas. But this approach could lead to decisions that reflect society's biases and unethical behavior. The negative effects of this approach can be seen in Microsoft's Tay, a chatterbot that learned to repeat racist and sexually charged tweets. One thought experiment focuses on a Genie Golem with unlimited powers presenting itself to


id: mad-scientist-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_scientist-0.md
category: reference
title: Mad scientist
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_scientist
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:38.448397+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: mad-scientist-20260505-0
summary:
The mad scientist (also mad doctor or mad professor) is a stock character of a scientist who is perceived as "mad, bad and dangerous to know" or "insane" owing to a combination of unusual or unsettling personality traits and the unabashedly ambitious, taboo or hubristic nature of their experiments. As a motif in fiction, the mad scientist may be villainous (evil genius) or antagonistic, benign, or neutral; may be insane, eccentric, or clumsy; and often works with fictional technology or fails to recognise or value common human objections to attempting to play God. Some may have benevolent intentions, even if their actions are dangerous or questionable, which can make them accidental antagonists. == History == === Prototypes === The prototypical fictional mad scientist was Victor Frankenstein, creator of his eponymous monster, who made his first appearance in 1818, in the novel Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley. Though the novel's title character, Victor Frankenstein, is a sympathetic character, the critical element of conducting experiments that cross "boundaries that ought not to be crossed", heedless of the consequences, is present in Shelley's novel. Frankenstein was trained as both an alchemist and a modern scientist, which makes him the bridge


id: memory-erasure-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_erasure-0.md
category: reference
title: Memory erasure
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_erasure
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:40.242517+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: memory-erasure-20260505-0
summary:
Memory erasure is the selective artificial removal of memories or associations from the mind. Memory erasure has been shown to be possible in some experimental conditions; some of the techniques currently being investigated are, drug-induced amnesia, selective memory suppression, destruction of neurons, interruption of memory, memory reconsolidation, and the disruption of specific molecular mechanisms. There are many reasons that research is being done on the selective removal of memories. Potential patients for this research include patients with psychiatric disorders such as post traumatic stress disorder, or substance use disorder, among others. Memory erasure is also featured in numerous works of fiction, with fictional methods and properties that do not necessarily correspond with scientific reality. == Recent history == Research focused on gaining a better understanding of what memories are has been going on for many years, in this way so has research in memory erasure. The basis for the recent history for memory erasure has been focused on determining how the brain actively keeps memories stored and retrieves them. There have been several instances where researchers found drugs that when applied to certain areas of the brain, usually the amygdala, have relative success in being able to erase some memories.


id: memory-erasure-20260505-1
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_erasure-1.md
category: reference
title: Memory erasure
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_erasure
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:40.242517+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: memory-erasure-20260505-0
summary:
=== Disruption of molecular mechanisms === There is a growing amount of information that has shown that memory depends largely on the brain's synaptic plasticity, with a large part of this being dependent on its ability to maintain long-term potentiation (LTP). Studies on LTP have also started to indicate that there are several molecular mechanisms that may be at the basis of memory storage. A more recent approach to erasing memories and the associations the brain makes with objects is disrupting specific molecular mechanisms in the brain that are actively keeping memories active. Recovering methamphetamine (meth) addicts have reported that the sight of certain objects such as a lighter, gum or drug paraphernalia can cause massive cravings that can sometimes lead to a break in their mental strength and cause them to relapse. This indicates that long-term memories can be called upon by various different associations that were made with the memory without the conscious effort of the person. With an increasing belief that memories are largely supported by functional and structural plasticity deriving from F-actin polymerization in postsynaptic dendritic spines at excitatory synapses. Recent research has been done to target this F-actin polymerization by using direct actin depolymerization or


id: memory-erasure-20260505-2
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_erasure-2.md
category: reference
title: Memory erasure
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_erasure
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:40.242517+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: memory-erasure-20260505-0
summary:
== Measurement issues == There is an epistemological issue in determining whether the absence of evidence (i.e., memory trace) is evidence of absence. In experimental studies, the absence of behavior indicative of memory is sometimes interpreted as the absence of the memory trace; however, the memory impairment may be temporary due to deficits in recall. Alternatively, the memory trace be latent and demonstrable via its indirect effects on new learning. The measurement issue is compounded by the fact that memory processes are dynamic and may not always manifest in single locations or in static and easily identifiable changes detectable by current technologies. Michael Davis, researcher at Emory University, argues that complete erasure can only be confidently concluded if all of the biological events that occurred when the memory was formed revert to their original status. The current state of technology and methodology may not be sensitive enough to detect all types of memory traces. Davis contends that because making these measurements in a complex organism is implausible, the concept of complete memory erasure (what he deems "strong form of forgetting") is not useful scientifically. == Ethics == As with most new technologies the idea of being able to erase memories


id: military-medical-ethics-20260505-0
file: data/en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_medical_ethics-0.md
category: reference
title: Military medical ethics
tags: science, encyclopedia
source_url: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_medical_ethics
date_saved: 2026-05-05T04:23:41.504068+00:00
instance: kb-cron
parent: military-medical-ethics-20260505-0
summary:
Military medical ethics (MME) is a specialized branch of medical ethics with implications for military ethics. Both are primarily fields of applied ethics, the study of moral values and judgments as they apply to the specific contexts of medicine and military affairs, respectively. MME encompasses the practical application of ethics by military physicians and other healthcare practitioners to dilemmas in military clinical and public health settings in which the patients may be friendly or enemy personnel or in which civilians are affected by military operations. == Overview == Within a garrison (peacetime or non-deployed) setting, precepts of MME may not differ much from medical ethics in a civilian context and usually employ the same decision-making processes. (Military physicians in the United States, for example, are licensed by at least one of the state medical boards and so are required to practice medicine according to the ethical stipulations of that state.) There is an intrinsic dichotomy, however, between medicine's healing mission and a military's (sometimes) destructive operations. Because military operations may result in the injury or death of enemy personnel (often deliberately so) and may involve the detention and interrogation of captured enemy personnel, medical ethics considerations for clinical providers assigned


