Contemporary Moral Issues:Diversity and Consensus
3rd Edition
by
Lawrence M. Hinman
(Prentice-Hall, 2005) © 2006

Contemporary Moral Issues: Diversity and Consensus was originally published December, 1995 and is now available for courses. A series of videotapes, with approximately one twelve-minute segment per chapter, is available free of charge to any instructor who is using the book. An instructor's manual is also available, both in printed form and on-line. Support will also be available here on Ethics Updates.

"This anthology provides a comprehensive selection of readings on contemporary social issues revolving around three general themes: Matters of Life and Death, Matters of Equality and Diversity, and Expanding the Circle (duties beyond borders, living together with animals, and environmental ethics). Each set of readings is accompanied by an extensive introduction, a bibliographical essay, pre-reading questions, and discussion questions." (* Prentice Hall)

If you would like more information about Contemporary Moral Issues: Diversity and Consensus or would like to request a desk copy, please e-mail your request to: Lawrence M. Hinman. Desk copies are only available to instructors using the book as a text in class.

Table of Contents

Preface.

Introduction: A Pluralistic Approach to Contemporary Moral Issues.

An Initial Self-Quiz.

PART I. MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH.

1. Cloning and Reproductive Technologies.

An Introduction to the Moral Issues.

The Arguments.

Gregory Stock and Francis Fukuyama,"The Clone Wars."

Glenn McGee,"Parenting in an Era of Genetics."

F. M. Kamm,"Embryonic Stem Cell Research: A Moral Defense."

Concluding Discussion Questions.

For Further Reading.

Videotape: Topic: To Preserve or Defend, Does the Gift of Life Cost Life Itself ?

Stem Cell Research.

Source: Nightline, June 20, 2001.

2. Abortion.

Experiential Account.

Linda Bird Francke,"There Just Wasn’t Room in Our Lives Now for Another Baby."

An Introduction to the Moral Issues.

The Arguments.

Jane English,"Abortion and the Concept of a Person."

Roy W. Perrett,"Buddhism, Abortion, and the Middle Way."

Don Marquis,"Why Abortion Is Immoral."

Concluding Discussion Questions.

For Further Reading.

Videotape: Topic: Civil War (Roe v. Wade).

Source: Nightline, January 22, 2003.

3. Euthanasia.

Narrat ive Accounts.

Anonymous,"It’s Over, Debbie."

Timothy E. Quill, M.D.,"Death and Dignity: A Case of Individualized Decision Making."

An Introduction to the Moral Issues.

John Hardwig,"Is There a Duty to Die?"

James Rachels,"Active and Passive Euthanasia."

Richard Doerflinger,"Assisted Suicide: Pro-Choice or Anti-Life?"

Concluding Discussion Questions.

For Further Reading.

Videotape: Topic: A Good Death.

Source: Nightline, March 12, 2004.

4. Punishment and the Death Penalty.

Narrat ive Account.

Helen Prejean, C.S.J.,"Crime Victims on the Anvil of Pain."

An Introduction to the Moral Issues.

The Arguments.

David Gelernter,"What Do Murderers Deserve? The Death Penalty in Civilized Societies."

Jeffrey H. Reiman,"Against the Death Penalty."

Concluding Discussion Questions.

For Further Reading.

5. War, Terrorism, and Counterterrorism.

An Introduction to the Moral Issues.

The Arguments.

Michael Walzer,"The Argument about Humanitarian Intervention."

Martin L. Cook,"Ethical Issues in Counterterrorism Warfare."

Deni Elliott,"Terrorism, Global Journalism, and the Myth of the Nation-State."

Alan M. Dershowitz,"Is There a Tortuous Road to Justice?"

Concluding Discussion Questions.

For Further Reading.

Videotape: Topic: Torture.

Source: Nightline, May 12, 2004.

PART II. MATTERS OF DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY.

6. Race and Ethnicity.

An Introduction to the Moral Issues.

The Arguments.

Howard McGary,"Achieving Democratic Equality: Forgiveness, Reconciliation, and Reparations."

David A. Reidy,"Hate Crimes Laws: Progressive Politics or Balkanization?"

Gregory Velazco y Trianosky,"Beyond Mestizaje: The Future of Race in America."

Concluding Discussion Questions.

For Further Reading.

Videotape: Topic: America in Black and White.

Source: Nightline, December 3, 2003.

7. Gender.

An Introduction to the Moral Issues.

The Arguments.

Catharine MacKinnon,"What Is Sexual Harassment?"

David Benatar,"The Second Sexism."

Susan Moller Okin,"Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women?"

Concluding Discussion Questions

For Further Reading

Videotape: Topic: Divine Law, the Case of Amina Lawal.

Source: Nightline, July 10, 2003.

8. Sexual Orientation.

An Introduction to the Moral Issues.

The Arguments.

Martha Nussbaum,"Gay Rights."

James Q. Wilson,"Against Homosexual Marriage."

Concluding Discussion Questions.

For Further Reading.

Videotape: Topic: Gay Marriage.

Source: Nightline, February 24, 2004.

PART III. EXPANDING THE CIRCLE.

9. World Hunger and Poverty.

Narrat ive Account.

Lawrence B. Salander,"The Hunger."

An Introduction to the Moral Issues.

The Arguments.

Garrett Hardin,"Lifeboat Ethics: The Case against Helping the Poor."

Peter Singer,"Rich and Poor ."

Hugh LaFollette and Larry May,"Suffer the Little Children."

Concluding Discussion Questions.

For Further Reading.

Videotape: Topic: The Shipment: Trying to Deliver Food to Those Who Need It.

Source: Nightline, July 17, 2002.

10. Living Together With Animals.

Narrat ive Account.

Robert B. White,"Beastly Questions."

Peter Singer,"Down on the Factory Farm."

An Introduction to the Moral Issues.

The Arguments.

Tom Regan,"The Case for Animal Rights."

Carl Cohen,"The Case for the Use of Animals in Biomedical Research."

Concluding Discussion Questions.

For Further Reading.

Videotape: Topic: Give Me a Break, PETA.

Source: ABC 20/20, February 7, 2003.

11. Environmental Ethics.

Narrat ive Account.

N. Scott Momaday,"Native American Attitudes toward the Environment."

An Introduction to the Moral Issues.

The Arguments.

Holmes Rolston III,"Challenges in Environmental Ethics."

Peter S. Wenz,"Just Garbage."

Ramachandra Guha,"Radical American Environmentalism and Wilderness Preservation: A Third World Critique."

Concluding Discussion Questions.

For Further Reading.

12. Cyberethics.

Narrat ive Account.

Joseph Menn,"Hackers Live by Own Code."

An Introduction to the Moral Issues.

The Arguments.

James M. Moor,"Should We Let Computers Get Under Our Skins?"

Frances S. Grodzinsky and Herman T. Tavani,"Ethical Reflections on Cyberstalking."

Richard A. Spinello,"Ethical Reflections on the Problem of Spam."

Concluding Discussion Questions.

For Further Reading.

Videotape: Topic: Inundated by E-mail Spam.

Source: ABC 20/20.

Instructor's Manual for "Contemporary Moral Issues"