Review the Academic Content Standards related to this lesson. Discuss some of the uses of science mentioned in the article that could be debated from an ethical standpoint. Summarize a science-related New York Times article and write a brief essay evaluating both sides of an ethical issue presented in that article. Offer specific examples, and explain the underlying ethical issues involved in each.
Students then share their answers.
On the board, the teacher should note student responses to the question of ethical issues in science. Then, introduce the idea of the development of chemical warfare by asking students to discuss ways in which science could be involved in warfare or in the security of a country, and the positive and negative ramifications of their examples. What counts is intent. Paragraphs 53-57 offer a history of the creation of biological weapons in Russia. Discuss some of the uses of science mentioned in the article that could be debated from an ethical standpoint.