Dombrowski, 152-233

Tobacco and Death- When is a Cause not a cause?

• no public drama from deaths from smoking, unlike in the challenger incident
• connection between cause and effect is spread out over time
• statistical connection between smoking and lung cancer
• sophists were noted for arguing for the sake of arguing- every topic has two sides worthy of an argument
• 1950s-several medical reports linked smoking with lung cancer, tobacco executives decided to launch a public relations campaign that was pro-cigarette
• organized a research group to study tobacco's effects, but in reality was to divert attention from smoking as a cause of cancer and to oppose medical findings
• documents tried to pretend that there was no direct link between smoking and cancer
• tobacco companies declared that there was controversy regarding whether or not there was a scientific link
• 1960s- industry could find few scientists to support their position
• tried to hide the fact that nicotine was addictive
• 1970s-marketed filtered cigarettes as a way to respond to the health concerns
• they defended this because they said the public had a perception that smoking was problematic, not because they acknowledged it actually was
• euphemism of "biological activity" for tumors
• memorandums are full of euphemisms and confusing language
• 1980s- information is controlled in unethical ways
• fund certain research but not other
• lawyers watered down reports to obscure information
• further research is needed=effort to make findings appear inconclusive
• 1990s-lawsuits begin
• Controversy of "believe"
• tobacco execs did not "believe" nicotine was addictive
• they "knew" it was addictive, but did not believe it - perjury charges couldn't apply
• graphical images- attractive images/people advertised on cigarettes
• charm of diversions
• used to entice children to smoke
• make bad things appear to be good
• Aristotle- debates allow for the genuine truth of the matter to assert itself naturally, virtue involves honesty, so tobacco companies are unethical
• Kant-companies not treating the public as they would want to be treated
• Utilitarian- costs vastly outweigh the benefits
• Star Wars- Hope vs. Reality
• Strategic Defense Initiative- motivated to develop a defense against nuclear weapons
• Reagan challenged American scientific and technical communities to develop ways to intercept and nullify any nuclear weapons aimed at America
• values of "human spirit" make goal seem ethical
• software was the key
• identification/destruction of missiles would be coordinated by software
• very complex
• assertation that such software would be a monumental task
• seemingly impossible
• always be questions regarding the dependablility of the software
• serious concerns were acknowledged by government authorities
• senate hearing- technology not available yet to do what the President was proposing
• Parnas' critique of SDI software-accomodates audience so it is understandable to any educated person, clear and precise, his stand is obvious
• system could never be trustworthy
• Star Wars Boycott Pledge- university of Illinois and Cornell University
• they believed that it was not technically feasible or reliable
• SDI reports were full of vague language and inconclusive statements
• they had made unrealistic claims and misled the public