| Description |
xxiv, 424 pages ; 23 cm |
| Series |
Contemporary sociological perspectives |
|
Contemporary sociological perspectives series.
|
| Contents |
1. A single question -- Part I: A moral system evolves. 2. An exclusionary movement is born -- 3. Legal reform to eliminate defectives -- 4. Redrawing the boundaries of protected life -- 5. Crystallizing events and ethical principles -- Part II: The early moments and months of life -- 6. A bolt from the blue: abortion is legalized -- 7. Man's law or God's will -- 8. Inches from life -- 9. Should the baby live? -- Part III: The boundaries of tolerable suffering -- 10. Limits to tolerable suffering -- 11. Alleviating suffering and protecting life -- 12. God, duty, and life worth living -- 13. Assisted dying -- Part IV: Taking life and inflicting suffering -- 14. Removing the protective boundaries of life -- 15. A campaign to stop the executions -- 16. The pendulum swings, the debate continues -- 17. Lessons learned |
| Summary |
"Issues of life and death such as abortion, assisted suicide, capital punishment, and others are among the most contentious in many societies. Whose rights are protected? How do these rights and protections change over time and who makes those decisions? Based on the author's award-winning and hugely popular undergraduate course at The University of Texas, this book explores these questions and the fundamentally sociological processes that underlie the quest for morality and justice in human societies. The author's goal is not to advocate any particular moral "high ground," but to shed light on the social movements and social processes that are at the root of these seemingly personal moral questions"--Provided by publisher |
| Notes |
Formerly CIP. Uk |
| Bibliography |
Include bibliographical references and index |
| Subject |
Death -- Moral and ethical aspects.
|
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Life -- Moral and ethical aspects.
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Suffering -- Moral and ethical aspects.
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| LC no. |
2011038993 |
| ISBN |
9780415892469 (hardback : acidfree paper) |
|
9780415892476 (paperback: acidfree paper) |
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