The noble lie
Subtitle: how scientific advances become moral setbacks
By: Gary Greenberg.
Publisher: John Wiley
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Hoboken, New Jersey
Language: eng
Number of pages: 243
ISBN-13: 9780470072776
Subjects: Science -- Moral and ethical aspects; Science -- Social aspects
Description: "In The Noble Lie, controversial science writer Gary Greenberg takes a penetrating look at common and accepted medical practices and opinions that, while they may be beneficial for society and help us deal with the unfathomable, are essentially the product of moral judgments and not supported by scientific evidence. In a series of riveting true stories, Greenberg examines the processes through which alcoholism and depression came to be accepted as diseases, asks why serial killer Ted Kaczynski was diagnosed as schizophrenic, and examines medical pronouncements on when life begins and ends. He also explains why there is no proof that homosexuality is genetic, and there never will be."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes index.
Table of contents: title: Addiction; title: Depression; title: Sexual orientation; title: Schizophrenia; title: Brain death; title: Persistent vegetative state; title: Mortality.