Theory without practice is empty, practice without theory is blind, to adapt a phrase from Immanuel Kant. The sentiment could not be truer of cultural heritage ethics. This intra-disciplinary book bridges the gap between theory and practice by bringing together a stellar cast of academics, activists, consultants, journalists, lawyers, and museum practitioners, each contributing their own expertise to the wider debate of what cultural heritage means in the twenty-first century.

Cultural Heritage Ethics provides cutting-edge arguments built on case studies of cultural heritage and its management in a range of geographical and cultural contexts. Moreover, the volume feels the pulse of the debate on heritage ethics by discussing timely issues such as access, acquisition, archaeological practice, curatorship, education, ethnology, historiography, integrity, legislation, memory, museum management, ownership, preservation, protection, public trust, restitution, human rights, stewardship, and tourism.

This volume is neither a textbook nor a manifesto for any particular approach to heritage ethics, but a snapshot of different positions and approaches that will inspire both thought and action.

Cultural Heritage Ethics provides invaluable reading for students and teachers of philosophy of archaeology, history and moral philosophy – and for anyone interested in the theory and practice of cultural preservation.

Listen to editor Constantine Sandis speak about "Who Owns Culture?" on BBC Radio 4's The Moral Maze!

Sandis's gathering of thirteen thoughtful contributions across a range of disciplines vindicates his decision to consider the puzzles of cultural heritage ethics in both theoretical and practical terms . . . This rich collection of essays includes voices from the developing as well as the developed world.

— Ivan Gaskell, The Philosophical Quarterly, January 2015

This volume of edited essays on cultural heritage ethics makes for a dense yet enlightening reading experience . . . it brings to the table very interesting debates that I am sure will be further discussed in specialised forums. This short book has profusely illustrated chapters with black and white and colour pictures that serve as a visual companion to particular essays.

— Marc Balcells, Journal of Art Crime, June 2015

© 2014 Constantine Sandis. Copyright of individual chapters is maintained by the chapter’s author(s).
 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license (CC BY 4.0). This license allows you to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work; to adapt the work and to make commercial use of the work providing attribution is made to the author (but not in any way that suggests that he endorses you or your use of the work).

Attribution should include the following information:

Constantine Sandis, Cultural Heritage Ethics: Between Theory and Practice. Cambridge, UK: Open Book Publishers, 2014,