  In response to growing recognition of the social impact of new AI-based
technologies, major AI and ML conferences and journals now encourage or require
papers to include ethics impact statements and undergo ethics reviews. This
move has sparked heated debate concerning the role of ethics in AI research, at
times devolving into name-calling and threats of "cancellation." We diagnose
this conflict as one between atomist and holist ideologies. Among other things,
atomists believe facts are and should be kept separate from values, while
holists believe facts and values are and should be inextricable from one
another. With the goal of reducing disciplinary polarization, we draw on
numerous philosophical and historical sources to describe each ideology's core
beliefs and assumptions. Finally, we call on atomists and holists within the
ever-expanding data science community to exhibit greater empathy during ethical
disagreements and propose four targeted strategies to ensure AI research
benefits society.
