The best conversations take place around a fire. Staring into a hot bed of coals lends itself to deep thoughts and a roaring fire is the source of great discussions. Surrounded by the right friends, these conversations may allow us to examine the problems of the day, explore our innermost thoughts or even to answer the questions asked by philosophers.This book is an attempt to take the reader on a philosophical quest with John, as he tries to answer questions about life, ethics and Star Trek. In the format of a conversation among friends, the main character asks his companions what makes our decisions ethical or unethical and whether we need a first principle of ethics to help decide among competing choices. What begins as a simple question soon becomes the focus of this gathering of friends. I taught medical ethics at the University of Toledo. I have taught and consulted on issues of research ethics and clinical ethics since 1987. I have found writing to be a way to express my doubts and frustrations about the cases I have been asked to address over the years. Most of my writing has been short stories or poetry. The Trial of Frankenstein is my first attempt at a longer work. Burning Issues was written as a way to answer my own questions about what it means to be ethical.
