Introducing issues with opposing viewpoints

"Animal testing continues to meet with strong opposition from animal rights groups and others. Few people are interested in harming animals, but the practice seems preferable to using human subjects. The truth is, medical research using animal testing has contributed to many important treatments and cures for humans. But what are the ethics of testing on animals, and is there an alternative? The viewpoints in this volume explore the reasons companies and researchers use animals to test their products and treatments, the harms and benefits of animal testing, and options for animal-free tests"--Provided by publisher.

"Recently, cults have been a source of fascination, with various TV shows, movies, and books portraying them in lurid detail. However, cults have existed since ancient history, and many new religious movements have proven to be harmless. What distinguishes a cult from a sect, and how do these new religious movements become accepted? What strategies are in place to prevent dangerous cults from forming, and how do these cults recruit members to begin with? Should cults and sects be granted the right to religious freedom? This volume explores the history of unorthodox religious groups and the debates surrounding them"--Provided by publisher.

Few would argue that students have the right to protest, but what forms of protest are acceptable? From the Vietnam War era to the more recent National School Walkout, students have used walkouts as a form of protest. Yet some teachers and administrators admonish such efforts because they waste precious class time and detract from learning. Others believe that, while peaceful protest is always the best first step, violence is an acceptable option when all else fails. Through balanced and respectful viewpoints, this resource examines the ways students can make their voices heard in an effort to create change.

"This . . . resource, containing diverse viewpoints written by authoritative voices, explores why school shootings seem to be an epidemic, their potential causes, and what can be done to stop them"--Provided by publisher.

A collection of essays on cultural appropriation from different points of view.

"The term 'artificial intelligence' (AI) was introduced in 1956, but it has drastically evolved since then, with today's AI designed to independently adapt to and learn from new data. AI is a branch of robotics, which involves programming machines to automatically complete complicated tasks. The opportunities to simplify and enhance daily life these machines offer could make them instrumental to the further development of humankind. However, concerns about what can be accomplished through robotics, the extent to which humans can control sophisticated AI, and the impact robots and AI will have on labor, warfare, and health must also be considered"--Provided by publisher.

Explores the issues surrounding ethics in journalism by placing opinions from a wide range of sources in a pro/com format.

"The divisive 2016 presidential election suggested the presence of a rift between residents of urban areas and those in rural communities, with fundamental differences in beliefs and values between the two. While the election spurred renewed interest in this divide, the divergence in the perspectives and priorities of urban and rural communities has existed throughout American history. This volume explores how the urban-rural divide came to exist, as well as how it impacts politics, whether technology has decreased or increased this sense of division, and what-if anything-can be done to unify Americans"--Provided by publisher.

"As of 2018, thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana in some form, either broadly allowing its recreational use or limiting it to medical applications. However, the conditions under which marijuana should be legalized-if at all-are hotly debated. Some assert that it should only be allowed for medicinal purposes, while others argue that attempting to prohibit it is futile and that it would be better to legalize it, which would enable the regulation and taxation of it. Concerns about marijuana's availability to minors and its relationship to crime and addiction are also explored in this volume"--Provided by publisher.

"School shootings and mass gun violence have brought the gun control debate to national attention, and according to a 2018 survey, 57 percent of Americans believe that stricter gun laws are necessary. However, the same survey found that 42 percent of Americans live in gun-owning households, indicating that gun ownership is deeply embedded in American life. How can the right to gun ownership and the necessity of reducing gun violence be reconciled? Is the NRA a necessary protector of civil liberties, or does it stand in the way of effective legislation? This volume will examine these contentious questions"--Provided by publisher.