题名

Practical Ethics and the Contemporary Museum

并列篇名

實務倫理與當代博物館

DOI

10.6686/MuseQ.200901_23(1).0001

作者

蓋瑞‧艾得森(Gary Edson)

关键词

museums ; ethics ; cultural tourism ; museum profession ; public trust ; code of ethics ; heritage ; museum standards ; 博物館 ; 倫理 ; 文化觀光 ; 博物館專業 ; 公共信任 ; 倫理準則 ; 資產 ; 博物館標準

期刊名称

博物館學季刊

卷期/出版年月

23卷1期(2009 / 01 / 01)

页次

5 - 21+23-24

内容语文

英文

中文摘要

This article considers ethics as a primary factor in guiding contemporary museums through the challenges of the 21st century. It describes ethics as an aid in decision-making and a source of objective reasoning to facilitate proper museum activities and judgments. The practicality of ethics as a force within the museum community is demonstrated by brief case studies of situations that conflict with accepted museum practices. Contemporary museums face many challenges with their expanding social, cultural, and financial roles. They must appeal to a local constituency, preserve the heritage of the community in which they exist, conform to the various social and cultural needs of constituents, provide informal education, and inspire public trust by acting honorably, professionally, and openly. At the same time, museums must ensure the integrity of exhibitions, guard against acquisition of illicitly obtained objects, provide proper protection of collection records, maintain professional relations with other institutions, and comply with all applicable national and international laws. The means by which these challenges are met depend on the ethical attitudes and practices of museum personnel. Each member of the museum community has an obligation to observe and promote practices that serve the museum profession. Museums, as the centers of cultural tourism, are essential elements in a multi-billion dollar market. Their activities are an important part of the global economy; therefore, they can be a positive influence on both humanity and the environment. Museums rely on public trust to fulfill this responsibility. Consequently, they must base their practices on accepted norms established by the museum profession. These norms (or ethics) apply to all museums. They deal with the fundamental issues of practical decision-making, and include the standards by which actions can be judged. The seemingly complicated nature of issues encountered by contemporary museums is often the cause for uncertainty that arises from basic questions about institutional roles and responsibilities, values and beliefs. Ethics is a means for formulating institutional and professional order and influencing both individual and group conduct. Individual ethics are principles that incorporate fundamental ideals about good and bad, and correct and incorrect value judgments. Group ethics include customs and codes that monitor individual behavior for the benefit of the group. Ethical theory influences how people view their professional responsibilities. As a result, a range of actions is generated to meet the needs of the museum profession. These principles (ethics) verify correct responses to particular situations (as exemplified by the case studies) according to accepted museum practices. Ethical positions are supported by such information as facts about human nature, the individual and society, and what is considered intrinsically good. The application of ethics as a code of acceptable practice is associated with professionalism. Professional codes of ethics emanate from those persons actively involved in the profession. Those codes apply to all persons within the specified group, but do not necessarily apply to persons outside the profession. The ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums is a notable example of this approach.

英文摘要

本文認為倫理是引領當代博物館通過21世紀挑戰的要素。倫理是決策的輔助工具,也是達成博物館合宜運作與判斷的客觀推理。本文以簡短的個案研究中的各種情境,其與公認的博物館實務運作間所產生的衝突,來呈現倫理道德在博物館社群中的實務面。當代博物館在擴展其社會、文化及財務角色時,必然面對許多挑戰。例如:回應地方團體的訴求,保存所在社區的資產,關照社區成員各種社會與文化需求,提供非正式教育,行事光明磊落並具備專業,以博取大衆的信任。同時,博物館必須確保展覽完善,不得違法取得文物,能適當地保存蒐藏紀錄,與其他的機構保持專業上的關係,並能遵守國家與國際上適用的法律。博物館迎接挑戰時所採用的對策,端視博物館從業人員的倫理態度與行事作為。博物館團體中每一份子都有責任去檢討並推動合乎博物館專業的實務。做為文化觀光中心的博物館,占有多億美元的市場,其一舉一動,在全球經濟上舉足輕重。因此,博物舘對於人類與環境都具有正面的影響力。博物館基於公共信任而達成其應盡之責任,故其實務運作必須依據博物館專業所建立的公認準則。這些準則(或稱倫理)適用於所有博物館,它用來處理實務決策上的基本議題,包括可用來評斷行事的標準。當代博物館所遭遇看似複雜的議題,往往是因為本身對於機構角色與責任、價值與信仰等基本問題的不確定。倫理是制訂組織秩序與專業秩序的一套工具,影響個人及組織團體的行事作為。個人倫理是用以判別好與壞、正確與否的價值判斷原則。組織倫理則包括慣例與守則,用以監督個人行為,以利組織。倫理理論影響人們如何看待他們的專業職責,因而衍生出符合博物館專業的行為。這些原則(倫理)讓我們驗證在遭逢特殊情境時(如文中所舉的案例),是否依據公認的博物館運作實務而做出正確的反應。此外,人性的本質、個人與社會的内涵、内在的良善等論證,也支持這種倫理道德立場。做為可接受的實務準則,倫理道德必須結合專業。專業倫理準則是由積極投入專業的所有個人所產出。這些準則適用於特定團體中的所有個體,但是不一定合適該專業以外的個人。國際博物館協會(ICOM)的「博物館倫理準則」(ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums)就是這方面的顯著例證。

主题分类 人文學 > 人文學綜合
人文學 > 藝術
参考文献
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被引用次数
  1. 劉婉珍(2010)。反制宰制—博物館人的能動性與政治行動。博物館學季刊,24(3),5-19。