总述
这课程探索美国科学家面对改变中的政治抉择和道德困境，从二战后的原子能科学家到当今的生物学家，后者正与克隆和其它生物科技带来的问题较量。我们自问如面临相同选择时，会如何应对；通过历史和政治背景来看科学家，尽量理解他们作做的选择。一些涉及的主题包括：核武器的最初发展以及轰炸广岛和长崎；冷战对美国科学的影响；辩论核能和杀虫剂的风险；对濒危病人使用放射性试验，以及中央情报局用麦角二乙胺（迷幻剂LSD）操纵不知情参与者的意识；保密对科学的作用；爱滋病激进分子敌视医药研究人员的尝试和折磨；人类基因组计划、人类复制（克隆）、胚胎干细胞研究和设计婴儿的争论。
要求
除了课堂授课，上课时还有录像播放。只要班级人数允许，会有相当多班上讨论，学生来上课时应该准备好参加讨论。这就是说上课前要阅读。要求准时上课，这会受监察。课程要求还包含了三篇7页的论文和一次期末考试。
评分
课程总成绩按以下比重决定：
Table for Grading
| 第一篇论文成绩 |
20% |
| 第二篇论文成绩 |
20% |
| 第三篇论文成绩 |
20% |
| 课堂参与 |
15% |
| 期末考试成绩 |
25% |
必需课本
Marks, John. 〈寻找满州候选人：中央情报局和意识控制〉. New York, NY: Random House, 1979. ISBN: 0812907736.
（编注：《满州候选人The Manchurian Candidate》是一部1959年的流行小说，故事是说美国士兵在韩战期间被俘，经思想洗脑后回到美国，静待控制者随时发号施令，而被洗脑者不知道思想已被控制。小说于1962和2004年两度拍成电影「谍影迷魂」。）
崔西?季德 《爱无国界：法默医师的传奇故事》. 钱基莲译，天下文化，2005年正体译本
杰若米?雷夫金. 《第二个创世纪》. 李文昭译，晨星出版，1999年正体译本
Overview
This class explores the changing political choices and ethical dilemmas of American scientists from the atomic scientists of World War II to biologists in the present wrestling with the questions raised by cloning and other biotechnologies. As well as asking how we would behave if confronted with the same choices, we try to understand the choices scientists have made by seeing them in their historical and political contexts. Some of the topics covered include: the original development of nuclear weapons and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; the effects of the Cold War on American science; debates on the riskiness of nuclear power and pesticides; radiation experiments on terminally ill patients and CIA mind-control experiments with LSD on unwitting participants; the effects of secrecy on science; the trials and tribulations of medical researchers confronted by AIDS activists; and debates on the human genome project, human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and designer babies.
Requirements
Besides lectures, there are videos shown during class. As far as the class size permits, there is also considerable class discussion, and students should come prepared to participate in these discussions. That means doing the reading before class. Regular attendance is required and monitored. Course requirements also include three 7 page papers, and a final exam.
Grading
The final course grade is determined as follows:
Table for Grading
| First Paper Grade |
20% |
| Second Paper Grade |
20% |
| Third Paper Grade |
20% |
| Class Participation |
15% |
| Final Exam Grade |
25% |
Required Texts
Marks, John. The Search for the Manchurian Candidate: The CIA and Mind Control. New York, NY: Random House, 1979. ISBN: 0812907736.
Kidder, Tracy. Mountains Beyond Mountains: Healing the World: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer. New York, NY: Random House, 2003. ISBN: 0375506160.
Rifkin, Jeremy. The Biotech Century. New York, NY: Penguin, 1998. ISBN: 075380848X.
