The Ethics of Science: An Introduction (Philosophical Issues in Science) [Hardcover]

David B. Resnik (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415166977 | ISBN-13: 978-0415166973 | Publication Date: May 6, 1998 | Edition: 1

Ethics of Science is a comprehensive and student-friendly introduction to the study of ethics in science and scientific research. The book covers:
* Science and Ethics
* Ethical Theory and Applications
* Science as a Profession
* Standards of Ethical Conduct in Science
* Objectivity in Research
* Ethical Issues in the Laboratory
* The Scientist in Society
* Toward a More Ethical Science
* Actual case studies include: Baltimore Affair * cold fusion * Milikan's oil drop experiments * human and animal cloning * Cold War experiments * Strategic Defence Initiative * the Challenger accident * Tobacco Research.

Editorial Reviews

Review

For a long time those of us who try to explain science to students have needed a text that is both comprehensive and comprehensible and strikes our students as relevant to their own experience. David Resnik's The Ethics of Science meets these needs--and more. It helps us to understand how science works the way that it does and when it fails, why it fails.
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–David L. Hull, Northwestern University

Science faculty and students--and an interested public--will find Ethics of Science admirably clear, balanced, and richly comprehensive . . .An extremely useful aspect of the book is that virtually every kind of ethical questions that arises in and about science is addressed
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–Hans Oberdiek, Swarthmore College

David B. Resnik uses a wealth of actual and hypothetical examples in a clear philosophical discussion that illuminates the range of ethical concerns that scientists need to face. This is one area where philosophical argument can serve a practical need: the more scientists who think carefully about the issues Resnik raises, the better
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–Peter Lipton, Cambridge University

Essential reading for all students and professionals in science and scientific research.
–Chaos

About the Author

David B. Resnik is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for the Advancement of Ethics at the University of Wyoming.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (May 6, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415166977
• ISBN-13: 978-0415166973
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,892,946 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Decidedly elementary and little more than common sense, December 8, 2007

By 

Plant Doc (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ethics of Science: An Introduction (Philosophical Issues in Science) (Paperback)

A mere scratch on the surface of the ethical issues that a research scientist can encounter. This text seemed to be directed to freshman-level college students to introduce the idea that they will encounter instances in their work that demand they take a stand. But the content appeared to focus disproportionately on the power differential between PIs and young grad students and/or lab workers. Does the idea that it is not really ethical to present yourself as an expert outside your field, to fudge lab results, to demand authorship on a publication to which you didn't contribute, or to pad one's CV really present an "ethical dilemma" to a working scientist. I hardly think so.

Unfortunately, this text is mostly fluff when this topic could have been better served by a more focused effort. I cannot recommend this book for anything less than the most elementary introduction to scientific ethics, and it is far too expensive for that purpose. A text that captures something of my attention will sit on my shelf for a while. I donated it to a book sale after the first read.