Life Science Ethics

Publisher Marketing: The first section of Life Science Ethics introduces students to essential background concepts in moral theory -- ethics, the relationship of religion to ethics, how to assess ethical arguments, and a method used to reason about ethical theories. The next section demonstrates the relevance of ethical reasoning to six topics: -- The relative moral standing of ecosystems, nonhuman animals, and future human generations-- The moral justifiability of genetic engineering as a whole and the patenting of life forms in particular-- Our duty to aid the hungry-- Our obligation to animals used to produce fiber, food, and knowledge-- Public policies to adjudicate conflicting rights claims among urban consumers, environmentalists, and farmers over the use of water and land-- The virtues traditionally associated with family farmsPart three provides a dozen case studies and study questions to raise relevant ethical issues and draw readers into concrete discussions of complex moral questions. Review Citations: Choice 02/01/2003 pg. 1006 (EAN 9780813828350, Hardcover) Choice 06/01/2008 pg. 1716 (EAN 9780813828350, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Comstock, Gary L Gary L. Comstock is professor of philosophy and director of the ethics program at North Carolina State University. He is best known as the founder of the Bioethics Institute, a faculty development workshop that has helped five hundred scientists around the world integrate discussions of ethics into their courses. Dr. Comstock recently published VEXING NATURE? ON THE ETHICAL CASE AGAINST AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY. It explains how, after writing essays against genetic engineering, he changed his mind to become a "cautious proponent" of genetically modified foods. He is also the editor of LIFE SCIENCE ETHICS. Prior to his current position, Dr. Comstock was professor of religious studies at Iowa State University. He has held appointments at Oregon State University; is a Member of the Center of Theological Inquiry in Princeton, New Jersey; a past president of the Society for Agriculture and Human Values; and a popular speaker who has lectured across Europe, the US, and Canada, and in Israel, South Korea, Belize, and New Zealand. His work has been translated into Russian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Bulgarian. In 1998 he won his College's Award for Excellence in Outreach. Dr. Comstock has served as principal investigator or project director on more than fifteen grants totaling more than a million dollars, including major awards from NSF and USDA. He earned his Ph. D. from the University of Chicago and his B. A. from Wheaton College. Contributor Bio:  Comstock R. LAWRENCE COMSTOCK, PhD, an independent consultant, teaches in the Department of Materials Engineering at San Jose State University and at Santa Clara University.