Since at least World War II, U.S. scientists have grappled with wrenching ethical and political questions about the appropriate relationship between their expertise and the national security state. Sarah Bridger's new book explores key moments of ethical debate among scientists across a variety of fields in the years from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Ronald Reagan. Bridger has two goals: to illuminate how scientists conceived of the ethics of their research roles; and to demonstrate that the Vietnam War instigated a profound shift in scientists’ understanding of their ethical responsibilities. Despite the book's subtitle, Bridger's text fruitfully ranges beyond conflicts over weapons research. Some of her richest material addresses scientists’ efforts to grapple with the political and ethical implications of their policy-advising roles for organizations such as the President's Science Advisory Committee (PSAC) and the Jason Division of the Institute for Defense Analyses.
Bridger begins her account with the creation of...