Neuroethics : an introduction with readings /

Recent developments in neuroscience raise a host of ethical issues, from the introduction of brain-based measures in legal settings to the establishment of physical correlates of our subjective states. In this collection of writings, Farah (Univ. of Pennsylvania) guides readers through a host of such ethical problems. Contents include abridged versions of primary research articles, reviews, book chapters, and even commissioned policy documents. The chapters are well chosen, thoughtful, and diverse. They cover topics both prosaic (e.g., the explosion in the use of Ritalin among adolescents) and philosophical (e.g., how new research may change our sense of selfhood). Short overviews introduce key issues within each subsection and present questions for further consideration. These interstitial elements make the book useful as a primary textbook or a secondary source in courses. Its only real weakness is the lack of an overarching structure; save for the short initial chapter, there is little integration across the readings. This quibble notwithstanding, Neuroethics provides an accessible, authoritative introduction to one of the most striking intersections of science and policy. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Academic, professional, and public libraries, all levels. S. A. Huettel Duke University