Description

The Introduction, by Norman G. Lederman, sets up the central problem of the book: science education should not be only about learning scientific facts and skills; students also need to think about the social, ethical, and moral consequences of science and technology.

The main ideas are:

1. Science affects society
   Scientific and technological developments can create important social and ethical questions—for example, questions involving environmental issues, biotechnology, nuclear technology, or medical decisions.
2. Scientific literacy is more than knowledge
   A scientifically literate person should be able to understand scientific information and think critically about its implications for people and society.
3. Moral reasoning is important
   When people face socioscientific issues, they often have to make judgments involving values, ethics, evidence, and competing viewpoints.