Agriculture's Ethical Horizon

by Zimdahl, Robert L.

Edition:

2nd

ISBN13:

9780124160439

ISBN10:

0124160433

Format:

Hardcover

Pub. Date:

2/1/2012

Publisher(s):

Elsevier Science Ltd

Other versions by this Author

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Summary

What are the goals of agricultural science? What should the goals of agricultural science be? How do and how should the practitioners of agriculture address complex ethical questions? These questions are explored in this monumental book so that those in agriculture will begin an open dialoge on the ethics of agriculture. Discussion of foundational values, of why we practice agriculture as we do, should become a central, rather than peripheral, part of agricultural practice and education. If agricultural scientists do not venture forth to understand and shape the ethical base of the future, it will be imposed by others. Largely autobiographical, this book covers topics such as scientific truth and myth, what agricultural research should be done, an introduction to ethics, moral confidence in agriculture, the relevance of ethics to agriculture, sustainability, and biotechnology. * Written by an expert who has been engaged in agricultural education and research for over 35 years * Content is easily understandable by non-philosophers * The concepts of scientific truth and myth are contrasted and compared * Chapter sidebars highlight important concepts and can be used to engage students in further discussion * Companion website will accompany the book with further teaching aids and a discussion board

Foreword-First Edition	p. ix
Foreword-Second Edition	p. xvii
Preface	p. xxi
Acknowledgments-First Edition	p. xxxi
Acknowledgments-Second Edition	p. xxxiii
The Horizon of Agricultural Ethics	p. 1
Scientific Truth and Myth	p. 3
The Conduct of Agricultural Science	p. 15
What Research Ought to Be Done?	p. 23
When Things Go Wrong-Balancing Technology's Safety and Risk	p. 29
The Development of Herbicides	p. 30
Progress of Weed Science	p. 35
Challenges	p. 38
The Continuing Debate	p. 45
A Brief Introduction to Moral Philosophy and Ethical Theories	p. 53
Science and Emotion	p. 55
Universal Values	p. 57
Ethics in Agriculture	p. 59
Contemporary Normative Ethics	p. 61
Ethical Theories Relevant to Agriculture	p. 63
Ethical Egoism	p. 64
Social Contract Theory	p. 65
Virtue Ethics	p. 66
Deontological or Kantian Ethics	p. 68
Utilitarianism	p. 69
Applying Ethics in Agriculture and Agricultural Science	p. 72
Multiple Strategies Utilitarianism	p. 75
Moral Confidence in Agriculture	p. 81
The Benefits and Costs of Modern Agriculture	p. 82
Goals for Agriculture	p. 90
Social Goals for Agriculture	p. 91
Environmental Goals for Agriculture	p. 93
Expanding Agriculture's Moral Scope	p. 97
The Utilitarian Standard	p. 98
The Relevance of the Western Agricultural Model	p. 99
Bottom-line Thinking	p. 100
Sustainability	p. 100
Conclusion	p. 102
The Relevance of Ethics to Agriculture and Weed Science	p. 109
Agricultural Sustainability	p. 121
The Present Agricultural Situation: The Example of Weed Management	p. 124
The Moral Case for Sustainability	p. 132
What is Sustainability?	p. 136
Why must Sustainability be Achieved?	p. 139
A Concluding Comment About Sustainable Weed Science	p. 144
Biotechnology	p. 149
The Debate	p. 150
Technological Problems	p. 152
Regulation	p. 154
Arguments in Favor of Agricultural Biotechnology	p. 157
Arguments Opposed to Agricultural Biotechnology	p. 165
Feeding the World	p. 167
Harm to Human Health	p. 170
Harm to the Environment	p. 172
Transgenic Technology and Sustainable Agricultural Systems	p. 175
The Role of Large Companies	p. 179
The Moral Arguments	p. 180
Labeling and Biotechnology in the US and the EU	p. 181
Effects on Family Farms	p. 184
Academic-Industry Relationships	p. 186
Transgenic Pharming	p. 187
The Precautionary Principle	p. 188
Alternative/Organic Agricultural Systems	p. 197
Characteristics of Alternative/Organic Systems	p. 199
The Farmers and Productivity	p. 200
Transition and Advantages	p. 203
Ethical Problems	p. 206
Animal Agriculture	p. 211
Western Thought and the Line	p. 211
A Person	p. 212
Arguments in Support of Animal Agriculture	p. 215
Arguments Against Animal Agriculture	p. 216
Animal Biotechnology	p. 221
A New Technology	p. 224
A Final Word	p. 225
A Glimpse Ahead	p. 229
Six Important Issues/Problems/Matters of Concern	p. 231
Agricultural Production/Soil Erosion/and Desertification	p. 232
Depletion of Water Resources	p. 234
Climate Change	p. 238
Pollution	p. 239
Loss of Farmers	p. 240
Population	p. 243
Dominant Scientific Myths	p. 243
The Myth of Infinite Benefit	p. 244
The Myth that Science and Scientists are Value Free	p. 245
The Myth of Unfettered Research	p. 246
The Myth of Accountability	p. 247
The Myth of Authoritativeness	p. 247
The Myth of the Endless Frontier	p. 248
Production and Ethics	p. 248
The Imperative of Responsibility	p. 250
Finding Partners	p. 253
Mission Statements	p. 255
The Role of the University	p. 259
Sustainability as a Goal	p. 263
Conclusion	p. 269
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