Ethics, Revised Edition (Three Volume Set)

Written for high school and undergraduate students, the second volume of this three-volume reference contains 1,007 entries, over 200 of them new to this edition; the remainder have been revised. Coverage includes terms and theories, the ethical aspects of the lives of well-known figures, events, writings, situations, social mores, and policies. New to this edition is an increased focus on applied ethics. Each entry begins with an initial overview, giving a definition, date, type of ethics, and brief description of significance. A short essay follows, concluding with cross references and, in many cases, a list of further reading. A sampling of topics: alienation, Asoka, bystander, Children's Bureau, downsizing, Louis Farrakhan, gossip, Ibn Gabirol, limited war, George Orwell, robotics, sales ethics, and whistleblowing. Six appendices present a bibliography, biographical directory, glossary, Nobel Peace Prize winners, organizations, and time line of primary works. Both a name and a subject index are included. The entries were written by 366 academics in the US; editor Roth is in the department of philosophy and religious studies at the Claremont McKenna College in California. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Grade 10 Up–This revised edition continues to provide accessible entry points for those grappling with ethical issues and concerns. The 1000-plus articles cover people, events, organizations, trends, and issues. Applied ethics is emphasized more than theoretical, with various viewpoints clearly and equally elaborated. Ready-reference information, such as definitions, dates, and a brief synopsis of the significance of the topic, is offered at the beginning of each article. The more than 200 new entries range from Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Hate crime and hate speech to Rwanda genocide and Reality television. The technological explosion of the past decade is represented in articles on Identity theft, Internet chat rooms, and Napster. Bill Clinton and Martha Stewart are discussed, as is the Roman Catholic priests scandal. Many essays have been expanded and updated; others have been completely rewritten. In addition, more include bibliographies, and illustrations, charts, graphs, and maps have been added throughout. The signed articles are clearly written, providing sufficient detail for understanding without overwhelming readers beginning to grapple with an area of ethical dilemma. Topics related to specifically Western culture dominate, but many pertaining to Asian and Islamic cultures, such as Jihad, Pan-Africanism, Buddhist ethics, Iraq, and Confucius, are included. Appendixes offer an extensive list of bibliographies by general subject area; a biographical dictionary; a list of Nobel Peace Prize winners; and more. This well-organized, highly useful work will be popular with researchers and general readers.–Joyce Adams Burner, Hillcrest Library, Prairie Village, KS
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In today's social and moral climate, few topics are more in need of clarification and discussion than ethics. The fact that there are a number of reference sources on the topic is an indication of demonstrated interest. Now, Salem offers a major revision of one of these sources, first published in 1994, which purports in its introductory material to address the ethical dilemmas of the twenty-first century with an emphasis on applied ethics.

The revised edition is greatly expanded (1,685 pages compared to 961) and covers topics that are of recent interest, such as Child soldiers, Downsizing, Family values , and Napster. More than 200 of the entries are new, and many of the original 817 entries have been revised. There is an increase in visually attractive material (photographs, maps, charts, and informational sidebars), all of which give the volume a more modern appearance. One particularly useful feature of the first edition remains: each entry begins with explanatory material. For a term, the entry begins with the definition, the type of ethics that it most relates to, and a brief statement of the significance. An individual who is the subject of any entry is given a brief identification, birth and death dates, type of ethics he or she is connected with, and a statement of significance. Appendixes provide a glossary, a list of Nobel Peace Prize winners, a time line, and more. Entries are indexed by category, person, and subject.

Other titles, such as Academic Press' four-volume Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics (1998), Routledge's three-volume Encyclopedia of Ethics (2001), and Facts On File's one-volume Encyclopedia of Ethics (1999), all have relatively current information and are reputable sources. It is difficult to compare these on a side-by-side basis since each seems to have a different level of user in mind and a different approach to what aspects of ethics to discuss. The Salem encyclopedia is more student than scholar oriented, with an accessible format, fairly short articles, and visual appeal. It may not be essential for libraries owning all the above-mentioned sources, but if the previous edition has been useful, this excellent revision should definitely be considered. Its relatively reasonable price should appeal to high-school, public, and academic libraries alike. Danise Hoover
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