The Routledge Companion to Museum Ethics examines contemporary museum ethics through the prism of those disciplines and methods that have shaped it most. It argues for a museum ethics discourse defined by social responsibility, radical transparency and shared guardianship of heritage, and demonstrates the moral agency of museums.
"...an excellent record of ethical thinking and theory in the early 21st century." Vanessa Trevelyan, President of the Museums Association
"This important book brings together leading thinkers who take museum ethics beyond the policing of codes by specialists, to being the source, for the entire institution, of dynamic change, legitimacy and an enriched contribution to society...the authors present a vision of a holistic approach to ethics which transforms the museum's capacity to create value for society". Mark O'Neill, Head of Glasgow Museums 1998-2008
"This book is an indispensible resource for museum scholars and practitioners who want to re-fashion a more moral and humanistic foundation for museum practice. It posits that the truly ethical museum is a place of dialog and democracy that promotes social change." Marjorie Schwarzer, John F. Kennedy University
"This new Companion is remarkable. It offers museum professionals a chance to rethink the work they do from first principles, and it offers students, who may be its most important audience, a chance to understand the museum in its largest frame.... [It] offers philosophical guidance on making the museum, and society, a better place. Indeed, this volume does more than redefine ethics for the twenty-first century museum. It redefines the museum." Steven Lubar, Brown University
"This important book brings together leading thinkers who take museum ethics beyond the policing of codes by specialists, to being the source, for the entire institution, of dynamic change, legitimacy and an enriched contribution to society...the authors present a vision of a holistic approach to ethics which transforms the museum's capacity to create value for society". Mark O'Neill, Head of Glasgow Museums 1998-2008
"This book is an indispensible resource for museum scholars and practitioners who want to re-fashion a more moral and humanistic foundation for museum practice. It posits that the truly ethical museum is a place of dialog and democracy that promotes social change." Marjorie Schwarzer, John F. Kennedy University
"This new Companion is remarkable. It offers museum professionals a chance to rethink the work they do from first principles, and it offers students, who may be its most important audience, a chance to understand the museum in its largest frame.... [It] offers philosophical guidance on making the museum, and society, a better place. Indeed, this volume does more than redefine ethics for the twenty-first century museum. It redefines the museum." Steven Lubar, Brown University