More Reviews for Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Ethics

"...this work is a refreshing synthesis of issues spanning more disciplines that the title would at first indicate. Many will debate the inclusion or exclusion of topics, but for public and academic libraries looking for an authoritative reference source on a variety of topics related to moral dimensions of science and technology and written at a reading level for the educated layperson, this is highly recommended set."
--Booklist, December 2005

"This work will be of great interest to scientists, technologists, policymakers, social scientists, and humanists of every stripe, and should be part of the reference collection in every university library, especially those institutions where science, engineering, health care, and other technical fields have a strong presence. The ESTE's strongest suit - relating its central themes to social, political, and economic issues - is especially welcome at a time when the integrity of the sciences is under assault by monied interests and political ideology. In this connection the ESTE is timely and important, which makes its audacity all the more valuable."
--Technology and Culture, July 2007

"Carl Mitcham has gathered together some 600 contributors for this extraordinary overview of ethical issues in science and technology. In almost 700 articles, this enormous four-volume set covers the entire field in scrupulous detail.

Most unusual are eight introductory essays including Ray Kurzweil on nanoscience and Valerie Mike' on evidence. Among the general contributors are a group of truly outstanding scholars: Stephanie Bird comments on neuro-ethics; Arthur Caplan discusses bioethics centers; Amitai Etzioni describes communitarianism; Robert Sprague writes misconduct; Steve Fuller offers thoughts on Thomas Kuhn; Evelyn Fox Keller presents insights on Barbara McClintock, and Tibor Machan critiques B.F. Skinner. Precisely those topics and personalities one would expect are here: Clinical trials, Jaccqus Ellul, Galileo, genocide, participatory design (two pages), peer review (four pages), medical ethics (five pages), research ethics (nine pages including almost two allocated for bibliographic citations), Norbert Wiener. Occasionally, though there is a welcome surprise, which indicates how widely the editor cast his net: Bhutan, fire, pets, Ayn Rand, sport, tourism, and zoos.

Especially beneficial are the broad range of subject and the in-depth analysis of those topics that warrant more than brief commentary. The text is supplemented by a limited number of black and white illustrations and charts. The Encyclopedia of Science, Technology and Ethics belong's in virtually all public and academic collections."
--Journal of Information Ethics, August 2006

"As the editor notes, as the 21st century begins, ethical and political challenges have become global in scope. We need only observe the grief wrought by the publication of cartoons in a Danish newspaper. These have been intensified by terrorist use of science and technology. Carl Mitcham (Colorado School of Mines), who has worked to promote ethical reflection on technology, and contributors from 28 countries, confront the major ethical issues of our time in a series of 675 articles, 33 of which are overviews of topics like computer ethics, while the remainder deal with concepts, issues and case studies. The "hot button" issues treated include abortion, animal rights, computer viruses, genetically modified foods and virtual reality. Codes, printed and Internet bibliographies, a glossary and a chronology conclude this provocative set."
--Library Journal, (Library Journal Best Reference Sources 2005), April 2006

"College-level audiences with very strong holdings in science, technology or medical studies must have the 4-volume Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Ethics: it will reach these disciplines and more equally well, holding strong references on topics ranging from biology and medicine to business ethics, astronomy and public relations, and politics and social values. Much more than a compendium of topics and definitions or examples, articles provide detailed discussions linking ethical and social issues to advancements in technology, challenges of working with it, and more. From philosophy to bioethics and beyond, no serious college collection should be without."
--California Bookwatch, April 2006

"This new encyclopedia explores the realm of those choices. The 675 articles are written by scientists, scholars, philosophers, consultants and other experts in the fields of science, technology and ethics. Entries include overviews of specialized fields like business and medical ethics. Articles on animal welfare, responsibility, artificial intelligence and technology transfer define key philosophical and scientific concepts. From Chernobyl to the Tuskegee Experiment, numerous case studies illuminate the difficulties of the decision making processes. Current and historical issues are examined in essays on biodiversity, deforestation, the Holocaust, heavy metals and space. From Machiavelli and Adam Smith to Karl Popper and Bill Gates, the careers of individuals who have affected our thought on the uses of technology are described. Also demonstrated is the application of ethics to particular technologies such as automobiles and vaccines. The role of various organizations in governing science is another frequent theme. Finally, the various philosophical, religious and cultural perspectives that have influenced the debate on science are surveyed. A series of introductory articles examine the ongoing development of the ethics of science and technology. Supplementary materials include guides to print and online research tools, a glossary of terms, a brief chronology of historical events and excerpts of 69 ethics statements from American and international scientific organizations. While earlier resources have existed for the study of medical and bioethics, this encyclopedia breaks new ground in assessing the ethical basis of a wide range of applied and theoretical sciences. It addresses essential questions for our society and is highly recommended for academic and public libraries."
--John Lawrence, February 2006

"The verdict was coming together: topics were really relevant and clearly arranged, and this reviewer was really finding it all useful. Another approach was to examine whether a complex field like technology itself was covered, and it was. There were entries on technology transfer and science policy, the public understanding of science and misconduct in science, chemical weapons and genetic research, Three-Mile Island and the Three Gorges Dam, unintended consequences and playing god, Christian perspectives and technocomics. Such scope reasonably anticipates the many ways, and levels of use, likely from library users in schools and colleges and universities, making teachers feel confident that students will use such reference works and not simply Google their way to success.

The encyclopedia id durably bound in hardback, with clear typeface in double-columned pages on well-sized paper."
--Reference Reviews, March 2006

"...ESTE is a masterful compilation that stimulates "co-constructive" reflection on and assessment of our twenty-first-century high technology world...ESTE is destined to be a classic research/reference work."
--Judith Adams-Volpe, Director, Communication & Development, University at Buffalo Libraries, Spring 2006

"This encyclopedia considers both the professional ethics of science and technology, and the social, ethical, and political issues raised by science and technology. This resource includes general reference information but also uses a historically and culturally inclusive approach to ethics, with entries on specific religions, linguistic and cultural perspectives, and philosophical positions."
--Society for Social Studies of Science (4S), March 2006

"A masterful widely informative, and insightful compilation, ESTE stimulate "co-constructive" reflection on and assessment of the 21st-century high technology world. ESTE's technical entries range from introductory overviews, to conceptual entries, to case studies. Selected issues are distinctly thought provoking. The editor, advisory board, and contributors are stellar, established experts. In addition to authoritative thematic exposition and critical commentary, each entry includes a selective bibliography, a few Internet resources, and often-effective graphics or photographs. Special features of ESTE are eight lengthy introductory essays that together demonstrate the power of the synthesis of multidimensional thinking.

Summing UP: Essential. Academic libraries and large public libraries; all levels."
--Choice, February 2006

"Few would disagree that our present world population is in great need of an understanding of ethics and ethical issues, perhaps because of the influx of technology in our lives. The 250-3,000 word essays cover concepts, case studies, issues and biographies. The eight introductory essays should appeal to your more advanced science students, while the articles in the remainder are less difficult to read and understand. A topical outline found only in vol. 1 gives an analytic summary of the contents of the Encyclopedia. Many of the topics are definitely of interest to the high school student, such as Technocomics, which leads them into a discussion of radiation as a savior and scapegoat. The signed articles end with "see also" references and bibliographies that often include Internet resources. Black-and-white photographs, illustrations and maps illustrate the text. The appendices include a 27-page bibliography, eight pages of Internet resources, a 14-page glossary of terms and a 19-page chronology that begins with the ancient world and ends in 2004 with the Mars rovers and the cloning of a human embryo in Korea. The final 138 pages include codes of ethics. Your science and ethics teachers will appreciate this reference and your debate teams may find a little different slant to their topics here."
--Blanche Woolls, January 2006

"The Encyclopedia embodies a historically and culturally inclusive approach, with entries on specific religions, linguistic and cultural perspectives, and philosophical positions."
--Professional Ethics Report, Summer 2005