STEP - Science and Technology in the European Periphery

Perspectives in Bioethics, Science, and Public Policy

Edited by Jonathan Beever and Nicolae Morar

Book Description

In this book, nine thought-leaders engage with some of the hottest moral
issues in science and ethics. Based on talks originally given at the
annual “Purdue Lectures in Ethics, Policy, and Science,” the chapters
explore interconnections between the three areas in an engaging and
accessible way. Addressing a mixed public audience, the authors go beyond
dry theory to explore some of the difficult moral questions that face
scientists and policy-makers every day.

The introduction presents a theoretical framework for the book, defining
the term “bioethics” as extending well beyond human well-being to wider
relations between humans, nonhuman animals, the environment, and
biotechnologies. Three sections then explore the complex relationship
between moral value, scientific knowledge, and policy making. The first
section starts with thoughts on nonhuman animal pain and moves to a
discussion of animal understanding. The second section explores climate
change and the impact of “green” nanotechnology on environmental concerns.
The final section begins with dialog about ethical issues in
nanotechnology, moves to an exploration of bio-banks (a technology with
broad potential medical and environmental impact), and ends with a survey
of the impact of biotechnologies on (synthetic) life itself.

Contents: Part 1: Animals: Moral agency, moral considerability, and
consciousness (Daniel Kelly) and From minds to minding (Mark Bernstein);
Animal Pain: What is it and why does it matter? (Bernard Rollin). Part 2:
Environment: The future of environmental ethics (Holmes Rolston III);
Climate change, human rights, and the trillionth ton of carbon (Henry
Shue); Ethics, environment, and nanotechnology (Barbara Karn). Part 3:
Biotechnologies: Nanotechnologies: Science and society (James Leary);
Ethical issues in constructing and using bio-banks (Eric Meslin);
Synthetic life: A new industrial revolution (Gregory Kaebnick).

LINK TO THE PRESS' WEBSITE:
http://www.thepress.purdue.edu/titles/format/9781557536426