This volume is a guide to the difficult ethical questions museums work entails. While promoting the value of ethical theory and practice in museums, Edson tackles several key controversies and also corrects a number of prevailing misconceptions about museum ethics, such as the difference between social morals and professional ethics as they relate to the museum context.
Drawing on the author’s extensive teaching experience, Museum Ethics in Practice offers clear and practical guidance on the application of ethics to the museum profession. Using example-driven arguments that incorporate varied case studies from around the world, this book is an excellent resource for museum studies students and professionals currently working in museums.
Introduction to Practical Museum Ethics
Chapter 1 Ethics and the Museum
Chapter 2 Ethical Perspectives
Chapter 3 Ethics and Social Responsibility
Chapter 4 Ethical Practice
Chapter 5 Ethics and Consistency
Chapter 6 Ethics and Truth
Chapter 7 Ethics as Personal Standards
Chapter 8 Ethics and Professionalism
Chapter 9 Ethics and Predictability
Chapter 10 Ethics as a Code
Appendix: ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums
Biography
Gary Edson is Professor Emeritus of the Center for Advanced Study of Museum Science and Heritage Management at the Museum of Texas Tech University, USA, where he was also Executive Director of the renowned museum for twenty-five years. He has worked closely with ICOM as a member of the Executive Council and member of the Ethics Committee, and continues to lecture internationally.