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Portfolio II.H: The Manhattan Project, Oppenheimer, and the Bomb
Read Section II, Chapter 5, pp. 350-355
War, Peace, and Military Ethics
Nuclearfiles.org: a project of the nuclear age peace foundation
Nuclearfiles.org: Ethics
Leo Szilard On-Line: The Atomic Bomb - The Decision
A Bomb WWW Museum
ASSIGNMENT:
Considering the class presentation on this issue and the information you have read in the links above, write a one page response to this issue. The following questions may give you some things to think about as you write your response. Relate the topic to current events, or the war against Iraq now being considered:
What is the "Just War" Ethic? Can there ever be a "Just War?" When and why?
Regarding the Manhattan Project and WWII, who are the major players?
What are their concerns and motivations of each?
What are the justifications for dropping the bomb?
Summarize the ethical concerns of this issue?
Whose individual rights or what community rights are being violated?
What harm is coming to individuals or the community?
Who was gaining at the expense of others?
What considerations were made (if any) when this (un)ethical action was taken?
Was the cost worth the benefits?
How did the scientists who created the bomb feel about it after it was dropped, and why? Why did they make it?
Evaluate the situation ethically:
Discuss your opinion of this situation ethically and each person/community in it, discuss the reasons for your conclusions, then discuss solutions and corrective approaches to this in light of your evaluation.
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