Ethics in an Age of Technology

<p>The Gifford Lectures have challenged our greatest thinkers to relate the worlds of religion philosophy and science. Now Ian Barbour has joined ranks with such Gifford lecturers as William James Carl Jung and Reinhold Neibuhr. In 1989 Barbour presented his first series of Gifford Lectures published as <em>Religion in an Age of Science.</em> In 1990 he returned to Scotland to present his second series dealing with ethical issues arising from technology and exploring the relationship of human and environmental values to science philosophy and religion and showing why these values are relevant to technological policy decisions.</p><p>In examine the conflicting ethics and assumptions that lead to divergent views and technology Barbour analyzes three social values: justice participatory freedom and economic development. He defends such environmental principles as resource sustainability environmental protection and respect for all forms of life. He present case studies in agriculture energy policy genetic engineering and the use of computers. Finally he concludes by focusing on appropriate technologies individual life-styles and sources of change: education political action response to crisis and alternative visions of the good life.</p>