Contemporary Debates in Social Philosophy
Contemporary Debates in Philosophy
1. Edition August 2007
336 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-1-4051-0911-6
John Wiley & Sons
In this important and engaging volume, international scholars
present opposing viewpoints to debate ten of the most important
issues in contemporary social philosophy.
* * Provides an original analysis of some of society's most
pressing issues
* Written by an outstanding cast of international scholars
* Issues covered include the nature of freedom, the limits of
religious tolerance, affirmative action, parenting, the death
penalty, privacy, violence, world hunger, social diversity,
homosexuality, and abortion
* Invites the reader to participate in the exchange of
arguments
Acknowledgments vii
Notes on Contributors viii
Introduction: Virtuous Disagreements in Social Philosophy
Laurence Thomas 1
Equality 17
1 Freedom and Money G. A. Cohen 19
2 The Meanings of Freedom Leif Wenar 43
The Family 55
3 The Good and Bad Family Rosalind Hursthouse 57
4 Family Resemblances Elizabeth F. Cohen 69
Sexual Rights 77
5 Homosexuality, Harm, and Moral Principles John Corvino 79
6 Homosexual Acts, Morality, and Public Discourse Christopher Wolfe 94
Abortion and the Limits of Freedom 111
7 The Fetus in Perspective: The Moral and the Legal
Anne Fagot-Largeault 113
8 Abortion and Moral Repugnancy Laurence Thomas 122
Privacy 129
9 Privacy John Deigh 131
10 Privacy's Value Terrance McConnell 146
Religious Tolerance 153
11 In Defense of Religious Toleration Philip L. Quinn 155
12 Does Religious Toleration Make Any Sense? Thomas Christiano 171
Diversity 191
13 Ethnicity, Disunity, and Equality Lawrence Blum 193
14 Diversity Limited David Benatar 212
Racial Integration 227
15 The Future of Racial Integration Elizabeth Anderson 229
16 When Turnabout Is Not Fair Play Carl Cohen 250
Scarce Resources 261
17 Moral Issues in Rationing Scarce Resources F. M. Kamm 263
18 Locke's Defense of Preferential Treatment Bernard R. Boxill 279
Violence 297
19 Psychological Violence and Institutional Racism: The Moral Responsibility of Bystanders Howard McGary 299
20 McGary's Striking Claim and the Roles of Self-Deception, Acquiescence, and Complicity B. C. Postow 312
Index 317
Notes on Contributors viii
Introduction: Virtuous Disagreements in Social Philosophy
Laurence Thomas 1
Equality 17
1 Freedom and Money G. A. Cohen 19
2 The Meanings of Freedom Leif Wenar 43
The Family 55
3 The Good and Bad Family Rosalind Hursthouse 57
4 Family Resemblances Elizabeth F. Cohen 69
Sexual Rights 77
5 Homosexuality, Harm, and Moral Principles John Corvino 79
6 Homosexual Acts, Morality, and Public Discourse Christopher Wolfe 94
Abortion and the Limits of Freedom 111
7 The Fetus in Perspective: The Moral and the Legal
Anne Fagot-Largeault 113
8 Abortion and Moral Repugnancy Laurence Thomas 122
Privacy 129
9 Privacy John Deigh 131
10 Privacy's Value Terrance McConnell 146
Religious Tolerance 153
11 In Defense of Religious Toleration Philip L. Quinn 155
12 Does Religious Toleration Make Any Sense? Thomas Christiano 171
Diversity 191
13 Ethnicity, Disunity, and Equality Lawrence Blum 193
14 Diversity Limited David Benatar 212
Racial Integration 227
15 The Future of Racial Integration Elizabeth Anderson 229
16 When Turnabout Is Not Fair Play Carl Cohen 250
Scarce Resources 261
17 Moral Issues in Rationing Scarce Resources F. M. Kamm 263
18 Locke's Defense of Preferential Treatment Bernard R. Boxill 279
Violence 297
19 Psychological Violence and Institutional Racism: The Moral Responsibility of Bystanders Howard McGary 299
20 McGary's Striking Claim and the Roles of Self-Deception, Acquiescence, and Complicity B. C. Postow 312
Index 317
"Thomas has put renowned scholars in debate with each other and the
result is a collection of stimulating debates of the highest order.
In these well-written and argued articles, one is treated to the
best of scholarly argumentation. One may not agree with all that is
said. Nevertheless, one will find that after reading this volume
one will have a better understanding of the importance of what
Thomas calls 'virtuous disagreement'."
Bill E. Lawson, University of
Memphis"Volume combines practical ethics
and political philosophy in a somewhat unusual way; it has quite a
lot of reasonable material on race and affirmative
action."
Metapsychology
result is a collection of stimulating debates of the highest order.
In these well-written and argued articles, one is treated to the
best of scholarly argumentation. One may not agree with all that is
said. Nevertheless, one will find that after reading this volume
one will have a better understanding of the importance of what
Thomas calls 'virtuous disagreement'."
Bill E. Lawson, University of
Memphis"Volume combines practical ethics
and political philosophy in a somewhat unusual way; it has quite a
lot of reasonable material on race and affirmative
action."
Metapsychology
Laurence Thomas is Professor in the departments of Philosophy and Political Science in the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, where he is also a member of the Center for European Studies. He is the author of over fifty articles and four books, Living Morally: A Psychology of Moral Character (1989), Vessels of Evil: American Slavery and the Holocaust (1993), Sexual Orientation and Human Rights (with Michael Levin, 1999) and The Family and the Political Self (2006). His articles on moral theory and social philosophy have been widely anthologized.