Agriculture's Ethical Horizon

Paperback  272 pp  ISBN 0123705118      £30.00

• 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

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.

Readership: Anyone engaged in agriculture including students, researchers, and professionals in environmental studies, horticulture, plant science, and soil science. Those involved in associated regional and county offices, farmers and ranchers, agricultural chemical companies, and all those employed by other phases of the agricultural industry.

Contents

Preface

• Introduction;
• The Conduct of Agricultural Science;
• When Things Go Wrong;
• An Introduction to Ethics;
• Moral Confidence in Agriculture;
• The Relevance of Ethics to Agriculture;
• Agricultural Sustainability;
• Biotechnology;
• How to Proceed