Final answer:
Beneficence involves actions that benefit others, while non-maleficence is centered on avoiding harm. They are foundational ethical principles in medicine and research, guiding clinical and study conduct by promoting well-being and ensuring no unnecessary harm is inflicted.
Step-by-step explanation:
Difference Between Beneficence and Non-Maleficence
The principle of beneficence refers to actions that promote the welfare and benefit others. It implies actively contributing to the well-being and good of individuals. In clinical research, this can involve ensuring that a study is not only advancing science but also considering the interests of the participants. The principle of non-maleficence, on the other hand, focuses on the ethical mandate to do no harm. Clinicians and researchers must avoid unnecessary harm and minimize potential harm where possible, whether in treatment or during a trial involving human subjects.
Responding to the options presented:
- Beneficence suggests actions for the good of others, while non-maleficence is about avoiding harm.
- Non-maleficence does not pertain specifically to artificial general intelligence (AGI) but to ethical practice in general.
- Beneficence is not less important than non-maleficence in AI; both are significant ethical considerations.
- Beneficence and non-maleficence are not interchangeable as one focuses on positive action and the other on avoiding negative consequences.
The most accurate statement combining these principles is that beneficence refers to "do only good" (actively promoting benefit) and non-maleficence refers to "do no harm" (avoiding actions that can cause harm).