Science and technology ethics

First published in 1991. The study of Japanese science and technology (especially tech­nology) is a fashionable subject at the present time, and numerous English language works appear month by month claiming to explain the'miracle'of the recent rise of Japanese technology. Most of these works are, however, seem to be superficial treatments of Japan's recent technological performance, lacking in historical insight. This book is an attempt to introduce a critical examination of the mechanisms by which Japan has promoted science and technology by looking at its post-war historical development. Publisher's description: Our world has been radically transformed during the past 200 years with the industrial revolution and development of mass production techniques and recently the plethora of technological advancements in medicine, engineering, computation, communication and entertainment products. These have made major changes in the ways that we live our worlds and in our expectations of the future. Science and Technology Ethics re-examines the ethics by which we live and asks the question: do we have in place the ethical guidelines through which we can incorporate these developments with the minimum of disruption and disaffection? It assesses the ethical systems in place and proposes new approaches to our scientific and engineering processes and products, our social contracts, biology and informatics, the military industry, and our environmental responsibilities. The volume is multidisciplinary and reflects the aim of the book to promote a state of the art assessment of these issues

Our world has been radically transformed during the past 200 years with the industrial revolution and development of mass production techniques and recently the plethora of technological advancements in medicine, engineering, computation, communication and entertainment products. These have made major changes in the ways that we live our worlds and in our expectations of the future.

Science and Technology Ethics re-examines the ethics by which we live and asks the question: do we have in place the ethical guidelines through which we can incorporate these developments with the minimum of disruption and disaffection? It assesses the ethical systems in place and proposes new approaches to our scientific and engineering processes and products, our social contracts, biology and informatics, the military industry, and our environmental responsibilities. The volume is multidisciplinary and reflects the aim of the book to promote a state of the art assessment of these issues.

Content: Science and engineering ethics: overview / Raymond E. Spier -- The processes of science / Stephanie J. Bird -- Ethics and the products of science / Rufus Black -- Engineering ethics / Vivian Weil -- Ethics in conflict / Brad Hooker -- A social contract? / Andrew Reeve -- Biology, engineering and ethics / Raymond E. Spier -- Computers and society / Simon Rogerson -- Ethical issues engendered by engineering with atomic nuclei / Raymond E. Spier -- Science and the military / Michael Atiyah -- Engineering, ethics and the environment / Susan B. Hodgson and Slobodan Perdan. This text re-examines and assesses the ethical systems in place and proposes new approaches. It will be of interest to all students of science and technology and all professionals involved with administrating laws in these fields.