Dombrowski, Paul M. : University of Central Florida
Dragga, Sam (Ed.) : Texas Tech University
Summary
This book deals with ethics and value systems as they relate to technical and scientific discourse. While it
covers several traditional ethical theories from classical to contemporary times, it also emphasizes that ethics
is a personal matter of judgment. The book shows how to become involved with thinking about and applying these
theories to one's own discourse. The fact that there are no easy answers to ethical questions is emphasized.
Issues include how and why information is obtained and how it will be used; how the meaning of technical terms
shift with the value perspectives behind them; and how science and technology can be used to put forth questionable
values or to serve values not apparent in the discourse.
For anyone interested in the history of ethics.
Table of Contents
I. THEORY AND HISTORY.
1. Nature of Ethics.
Why Study Ethics?
What Is Ethics?
Our Expectations.
Assumptions.
Perspectives.
Scope.
Organization.
2. Ethics in Rhetoric as Communication.
Limitations of History.
Ethics and Rhetoric Linked.
3. The Ethics Tradition.
Introduction.
Aristotle.
Kant.
Utilitarianism.
Feminist and Care Perspectives.
Other Views.
II. APPLICATIONS: REAL CASES.
4. Nazi Records: The Origin and Use of Information.
Organization, Dissemination, and Use of Nazi Information.
Nazi Technical Memorandum.
Graphical Images.
Ethical Appraisal.
5. Challenger Disaster.
Two Governmental Reports.
Two Crucial Shifts in Meaning.
�Smoking Gun� Memorandum.
Graphical Images.
Ethical Appraisal.
6. Tobacco and Death: When Is a Cause Not a Cause.
Cause.
Documents.
A Single Word.
Graphical Images.
Ethical Appraisal.
7. Star Wars: Hope vs. Reality.
Context.
Overview of SDI.
Congressional Office of Technology Assessment.
Congressional Hearing.
SDI Documents, Pro & Con.
Star Wars Boycott Pledge.
Patriot: Small Scale SDI.
Technical Claims about Air Operations.
Ethical Appraisal.
III. APPLICATIONS: HYPOTHETICAL CASES.
8. Ethics Exercises.
Introduction.
Case One: Laser Glitches.
Case Two: Freedom.
Case Three: Confidentiality.
Case Four: Buried Information.
Case Five: Whistleblowing.
Case Six, Government Ethics.
Appraisals, Cases 1-6.
Most chapters conclude with �Conclusion,� �Recommended Websites,� and/or �Topics for Papers and Discussion.�
