Modern science and technology exert strong influence on the world's development, a power that can be dangerous unless restrained by principles or guidelines. Calls for international guidelines regulating scientific research on a global front have become more frequent, for example, concerning socioeconomic development, sustainability of natural resources, world peace, quality of life, equity among nations, handling of scientific data, or problems in cyberspace. A few have been mentioned, but there are others. The primary concept is the guideline or code. An oath or a pledge makes appeal to a principle that must be universalizable, for example, applicable to all individuals in relevantly similar circumstances.
Oaths are, therefore, conceptually secondary to codes.
Others are worried that this practice can make ethics seem optional, for an oath concerns only those who swear it. The objection has then been raised that this image is antiquated. A discussion whether to express them in an oath or a pledge may follow but cannot precede that task. It should be noted that any pledge for science must be a part of a larger social-political dialogue. When a code is binding for a given group, it articulates a cooperative practice for all the members of that group.