The ethics of doing nothing

Abstract

This article discusses theways in which ethical arguments are used to direct or deter interventive treatments. Preventive conservation now takes a greater proportion of conservators’ time and this shift in employment opportunities is reflected in college curricula. Despite a recent reaffirmation of the importance of treatment, the underlying problems with educational infrastructure and heritage funding mean that practical skills are still at risk. In this context there is a slow drift in the interpretation of ethical guidance, which leads to a conservative view of what can or should be achieved. This drift may be a sign of purposeful progress or it may merely result from aimless indifference. In either case it may be possible to control the rate of change by altering attitudes to regulation and by encouraging individuals to express in detail their personal ethical beliefs rather than relying on shifting interpretations of general ethical principles.