Encyclopedia of Values and Ethics

From the Publisher

"…the articles in Hester's very readable encyclopedia explain opposing points of view, their history, and their foundation….In addition to topics that have provided grist for philosophers', lawyers', and theologians' intellectual mills over the centuries, the encyclopedia covers very current and very new topics such as ethics in cyberspace, speciesism and rock 'n' roll. Hester's encyclopedia enriches the field through its attention to American ideas and perspectives….a library cannot have too many encyclopedias on the topic."

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Rettig on Reference (Gale.com)

Library Journal

In this encyclopedia, which covers tenets, terms, movements, leaders, controversies, and organizations relevant to the discussion of ethics in America, Hester (administrator of gifted programs, Catwaba Cty., North Carolina, school system) proves to be considerably idiosyncratic in his choice of topics. There is an article on William J. Bennett but none on Alasdair MacIntyre. Gloria Steinem is included, as is the John Birch Society, Ghost Dance Movements, and the Facing History and Ourselves Curriculum. Jack Kervorkian is in, with the only source for the entry being Compton's Online Encyclopedia. In fact, general encyclopedias are often the only sources listed for the short articles. Many of Hester's articles are certainly timely, but this reader fears they will not stand the test of time. A better choice would be the two-volume Encyclopedia of Ethics, edited by Lawrence C. Becker (Garland, 1992), or Peter Singer's A Companion to Ethics (Blackwell, 1991).Augustine J. Curley, Newark Abbey, N.J.

School Library Journal

Gr 10 UpIn his introduction, Hester provides a useful overview of shifts in values over the decades of the 20th century. He then launches an uneven effort to uncover the "foundational ethics and values for each generation" of Americans. Entries cover individuals (Henry Adams, Henri Bergson, William Bennett); concepts (benevolence, manifest destiny); economic institutions (capitalism, slavery); movements (Ban the Bomb); issues (abortion, right-to-die); and social/political institutions (United Nations, parent-teacher associations). In short, the author casts his net very widely and not consistently. There are long entries for some unlikely inclusions and yet there is no separate entry for homosexuality; it is touched upon in a rather brief article about gay rights. All the entries, which vary widely in length, include a definition, background information, and sources. Often the background provided is too brief or selective. All of the sources cited in individual entries appear to be repeated again in an alphabetically arranged bibliography of 18 pages. A glossary is included. One wonders why; it is highly selective and most of the terms listed have entries in the basic text. While some terms, concepts, etc., are cross-referenced within the text, some within the index, and some in both places, the practice is at best erratic, which is a significant drawback in a book that deals so heavily with abstracts. Worse, there are some important omissions. This is a difficult area of study, especially if the material is not well organized and the author's criteria in determining the scope of his subject is not clearly stated.Tess McKellen, Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn

Booknews

Contains articles on concepts such as duty, fascism, predestination, and wisdom; movements such as women's suffrage, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Ghost Dance; people such as Michel Foucault, Mao Zedong, and Paul Ehrlich; and other topics such as cyberspace, the Holocaust, and the Monroe Doctrine. Suitable for high school or undergraduate students or general readers. Well cross-referenced. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.