Product Description

Stem cell research is headline news. Researchers are eager to move forward, state governments and private foundations are rushing to support it, and the sick and afflicted are desperate for its benefits. Yet powerful forces in our society—led by President George W. Bush—find it morally troubling and they are doing all in their powers to restrict its development beyond a very limited scale. Stem cells have the potential to develop into different parts of the body—skin, bone, nerves, blood, and more. Scientists usually harvest them from aborted fetal tissue or newly fertilized cells. This procedure has proved very unacceptable to the religious right. They argue that even a newly fertilized cell is fully human and has all of the rights of full-grown adults, and they find any use of aborted fetuses abhorrent. Given the medical potential for treatment of incurable diseases by stem cell research, as well as the moral dilemmas this technology poses, should such research be permitted? What moral, religious, or political objections might be raised? Philosophers Michael Ruse and Christopher A. Pynes have compiled this valuable, up-to-date, and newly revised collection of articles by noted experts to address all aspects of the stem cell controversy. The contributors—scientists, medical practitioners, philosophers, theologians, historians, and policy analysts—offer a variety of perspectives to give readers the critical tools they need to shape an informed position on the topic. Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of the science of stem cell research, its medical cures and promises, and the moral, religious, and policy concerns surrounding this controversial social issue.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #373569 in Books
• Published on: 2006-04-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 367 pages

About the Author
Michael Ruse is the Lucyle T. Werkmeister Professor of Philosophy at Florida State University and the author or editor of Cloning: Responsible Science or Technomadness?; Taking Darwin Seriously; Philosophy of Biology; and But Is It Science?.

Christopher A. Pynes is assistant professor of philosophy at Western Illinois University and coeditor with Michael Ruse of the first edition of The Stem Cell Controversy.

Customer Reviews

Excellent source of information
This book covers the subject from various angles. It is divided into major topics, with articles from various professionals speaking about the topic. A perfect book for those who want to learn the subject or write a research paper.

Well balanced book that would be useful in the classroom.
The editors give the stem cell debate thorough and thoughtful treatment of the complex issues surrounding the current debate. This would be an excellent book for someone wishing to become familiar with all aspects--social, political, religous, moral, scientific, medical--of stem cell issues.

I would highly recommend this book for any college course that plans on tackling such thorny issues as ethics--both medical and scientific. In addition, as both editors are philosophers the book would be well-suited to any introductory ethics class.