Modern Physics and Moral Responsibility

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

An examination of such questions as: What are the moral responsibilities of the scientist? Should the scientist be held accountable for what might be done with the results of his or her scientific research? Does the scientist have any special role to play, as a citizen, in public debate about science policy? Should the scientist sometimes simply refuse to engage in some kinds of research because of moral concern about the consequences of research of that area? No special background in physics will be assumed.