Ethics of Emerging Technologies: Scientific Facts and Moral Challenges (Hardcover)

by Thomas F. Budinger (Author), Miriam D. Budinger (Author) "Over the last 50 years, new technologies have emerged that have affected the lives of most people on Earth, and along with the benefits have..." (more)
Key Phrases: United States, New York, San Francisco Chronicle (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"While Ethics of Emerging Technologies is written as a text, it also is valuable and enjoyable reading for any scientific professional and especially for scientific leaders in their institution." (Science Direct, September 2006)

Product Description
An insightful guide to understanding and navigating the ethical issues faced by anyone affected by the ethical dilemmas associated with current and emerging technologies

Ethics of Emerging Technologies provides the background, insight, and tools for approaching and solving ethical dilemmas across a broad range of topics. The text discusses ethical problems, using examples and reasoning tools that will aid engineers, scientists, managers, administrators, and the public who wish to understand risks, benefits, and possible approaches to resolving conflicts associated with new technologies in the context of the global community.

Solutions we choose to ethical dilemmas accompanying new technologies will profoundly affect future generations. Scientific facts and guides to decision-making for all associated with emerging technologies are presented. Some of the topics are:
* Human health and environmental effects of alternative energy production methods
* Communications and privacy
* Plagiarism and authorship
* Genetic modification of organisms
* Human and animal experimentation
* Synthetic biology and bioterrorism
* Confidentiality in science, engineering, and business communications
* Risks and consequences of enhancing human beings through new technologies
* Cloning of human beings and stem cell research
* Brain modifications
* Space exploration

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (April 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471692123
• ISBN-13: 978-0471692126
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 7.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #710,876 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An excellent collection of topics; text format..., June 25, 2009

By	Sreeram Ramakrishnan (Yorktown Heights, NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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For a text originally released in 2006, the topics are just as or more relevant today. The text provides an excellent background of prevalent moral theories, principles, religions and ideologies, and then proposes a "Four As" (acquire facts, alternatives, assess, action) framework to characterize and deal with ethical dilemmas. It is hard to critique a book that is primarily designed to serve as a text book - such a format rarely allows for unique (or even controversial) interpretations. Nevertheless, the authors manage to provide excellent case studies and examples to illustrate key ethical issues in a wide variety of topics ranging from corporate ethics to genetically modified food, and a host of topics related to medicine (not surprising, given the authors' background). The topics on medicine are clearly the most useful and well organized(and one could argue most relevant to ongoing discussions as economies are focussed on reforming healthcare). In each chapter (which are self-contained), the authors lay out some key motivating questions to approach that topic, provides a fairly detailed background, and then use cases to illustrate the intricacies of ethical dilemmas in that topic, and then expound on how their 4As approach may be utilized. A comprehensive citation list at the end of each chapter, along with a good chapter summary certainly helps a more serious reader; though a casual reader will find a strictly academic format off-putting. Certainly, the exercise/questions section for each chapter removes any doubt a reader would have on who the intended audience is.

Being a former academic, I can relate to the need for having texts that provide the instructor flexibility in rearranging topics as desired and serving mostly as a tool to stimulate discussion. This text clearly can achieve that.

For a non-student reader, the book is likely to come across as dry, though it provides an excellent synopsis of ethical issues that are often not part of (but should be) discussions surrounding impact of IT. A patient reader will find enough material to provoke ones critical thinking of the role of IT and whether we are doing enough to address potential ethical challenges.

5.0 out of 5 stars Ethics of Emerging Technologies: Mediating Solutions for Progressive Ideologies and Traditional Moral Values, July 4, 2009

By	Johannes Platonicus (South Bend, Indiana) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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'Ethics of Emerging Technologies' will be a valuable resource-tool for scientists, technicians, engineers, businessmen, academics, politicians, doctors and, of course, for philosophers. This volume is important because it addresses the plethora of moral questions that have arisen, or will arise, as a consequence of recent scientific innovations and advancing technologies. Such topics as the Ethics of Stem-Cell Research, of Cloning, of Human and Animal Experimentation, of the Environment and of Emerging Technologies, are placed under the "microscope" of ethical scrutiny. Ultimately, the analysis of these controversial topics yields tons of scientific facts that are necessary for the solution of these issues in light of both progressive ideologies and traditional moral beliefs. The text is clear in its presentation of the facts, highlighting key points, providing detailed charts, tables and graphs. Also included is an exhaustive bibliography, pointing to relevant sources and a definitive and comprehensive glossary elucidating major terms. Overall, 'Ethics of Emerging Technologies' should be standard text-book reading at universities, hospitals, institutions and all general professions in the work-force.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading and food for thought, read more..., July 2, 2009

By	YogaKat "YogaKat" (Oregon United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

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This book is mostly text with very few illustrations. I love it though, you can pick up any chapter and there is a ton of food for thought.

The first chapter that I read was "The Benefits and Problems Generated by Information Technology" since I am in that line of work. It is interesting that information technology is equated with the industrial revolution, although the pace is significantly faster in our modern world. It is completely changing our lives.

It's very easy readings even though it may be overwhelming at first since it is in a very formal, hard-cover, text-book format. The sub-sections are broken into easy 1/2-1 page segments and there is a mix of serif and san-serif text that is easy to read.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this subject matter. I use mine as a coffee table book!!!