About the Book

The ethical and political issues associated with science and technology are not merely theoretical topics for academic discussion but have widespread impacts on society. Both personal and global in scope, these issues confront us in our everyday living and will inform policies for the future.

The Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Ethics is a groundbreaking publication covering moral issues raised for humans since the earliest technologies through the scienctific advances of today.  From the use of animals as tools to the implications of human strem-cell technology, this four-volume set examines the science and technology behind the products and processes that make our lives easier to live but raise questions about where we are heading.  Additionally, it reviews the full spectrum of ethical, poltical, religious, and cultural perspectives that can help us deal with the opportunities, temptations, and challenges of our progressively technoscientific world. 

Students, researchers, and general users will find entries on science and technology in all their aspects, including design, engineering, computers, bioethics, the environment,and accountability.  Biographics cover over 125 of the most influential people in these disciplines.  Specially commissioned introductory essays by leading scientists, engineers, and ethicists model contemporarywork in the ethical engagement with science and technology.  

The 675 articles in this encyclopedia were written by contributors from 28 countries and reviewed by an editorial board of scholars.  Each signed entry contains a bibliography, in many cases annotated.  Appendices include codes for technical and scientific organizations, annotated print and Internet bibliographies, a glossary, and a chronology of key historical events.  The text is fully indexed for case of research, and a topical outline categories entries under broad subject areas for an alternative access path.

Contents:

1. Technologies of Humility: Citizen Participation in Governing Science-Sheila Jasanoff

2. Ethics and Technology: A Program for Future Research-Deborah G. Johnson and Thomas M. Powers

3. Research Ethics, Engineering Ethics, and Science and Technology Studies-Ronald. R. Kline

4. Nanoscience, Nanotechnology, and Ethics: Promise and Peril-Ray Kurzwell

5. Recognizing the Structural Features of New Technologies-Hans Lenk

6. The Ethics of Evidence: A Call for Synthesis-Valerie Mike

7. Toward an Ethics of Science and Technology as Knowledge-Carl Mitcham and Robert Frodeman 

8. Values in Technical Design-Helen Nissenbaum