The Ethical Canary: Science, Society and the Human Spirit

by Margaret Somerville

The Ethical Canary is a major contribution to the debate about the hottest issues in ethics today, from one of the world's leading authorities.

Also by the author

Death Talk The Case Against Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide

Margaret Somerville

A reasoned, passionate, and wide-ranging enquiry into the euthanasia debate and its consequences for individuals and society.

978-0-7735-2245-9 CA $32.95 | US $27.95 paper 978-0-7735-2201-5 CA $75.00 | US $75.00 cloth

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Science, Canada

326 pages, Hardcover

First published April 26, 2004

Reviews

[Melodie Wendel-Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good to read medical profession POV on still very relevant topics. It's a good medical ethics course book.

[Gavasker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ms Somerville's writing seemed profound when I read her when I was 17 years old, but now I see the faults in her reasoning. The book uses interesting examples that keeps it fresh; however, it was irritating how the author consistently reaches conclusions by gut/instinctual feelings rather than reasoned arguments. As I went through the book it was always mysterious how the conclusions were reached, since it appeared that the author reached the conclusion first and rationalized it afterward.

Overall, this book is a good if you are a conservative Roman Catholic and want some arguments to use to hold your own for a little longer against better reasoned arguments by better ethicists.

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not nearly as interesting as it promised to be. I gave it up part-way through.