Description: PART 1. Fundamental Issues in MoralityISSUE 1. Is Morality Relative to Culture?YES: Melville J. Herskovits, from "Cultural Relativism and Cultural Values," in Frances Herskovits, ed., Cultural Relativism: Perspectives in Cultural Pluralism (Random House, 1972)NO: Louis P. Pojman, from Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong, 2d ed. (Wadsworth, 1995)American anthropologist Melville J. Herskovits (1895-1963) takes the position that morality has no absolute identity and that it is asocial and cultural phenomenon that varies according to the customs and beliefs of different cultural groups. In his view, the great enemy ofrelativism is ethnocentrism, especially as expressed by European colonialism. Professor of philosophy Louis P. Pojman holds that ethnocentrism is a prejudice like racism or sexism. He agrees that moral beliefs andpractices vary greatly across cultures and from one person to another, but he finds very serious problems in the contention that moral principlesderive their validity from dependence on society or individual choice.ISSUE 2. Does Morality Need Religion?YES: C. Stephen Layman, from The Shape of the Good: Christian Reflections on the Foundations of Ethics (University of Notre Dame Press, 1991)NO: John Arthur, from "Religion, Morality, and Conscience," in John Arthur, ed., Morality and Moral Controversies, 4th ed. (Prentice Hall, 1996)Philosopher C. Stephen Layman argues that morality makes the most sense from a theistic perspective and that a purely secular perspective isinsufficient. The secular perspective, Layman asserts, does not adequately deal with secret violations, and it does not allow for the possibility offulfillment of people''s deepest needs in an afterlife. Philosopher John Arthur counters that morality is logically independent of religion, although there are historical connections. Religion, hebelieves, is not necessary for moral guidance or moral answers; morality is social.PART 2. Gender, Sex, and ReproductionISSUE 3. Does Feminism Provide a Positive Direction for Society?YES: Ruth Sidel, from On Her Own: Growing Up in the Shadow of the American Dream (Viking Penguin, 1990)NO: Elizabeth Powers, from "A Farewell to Feminism," Commentary (January 1997)Author and social scientist Ruth Sidel contends that although feminism has made some progress, it holds the promise of even greater progressin the future toward a more caring society. Author and educator Elizabeth Powers argues that feminism naturally leads to strong governmental enforcement of feminist demands; adevaluing of housework, childrearing, and the family; and a struggle against the biology that links women with childbirth.ISSUE 4. Does Pornography Violate Women''s Rights?YES: Rae Langton, from "Pornography, Speech Acts, and Silence," in Hugh LaFollette, ed., Ethics in Practice: An Anthology (Blackwell Publishers, 1997)NO: Nadine Strossen, from Defending Pornography: Free Speech, Sex, and the Fight for Women''s Rights (Scribner, 1995)Philosopher Rae Langton argues that an analysis of the concept of speech acts shows that pornography subordinates women andsilences their voice. Therefore, pornography destroys political liberty and equality and should not be allowed. Nadine Strossen, president of the American Civil Liberties Union, asserts that pornography itself is a manifestation of free speech, and its presence must be accepted as part of the affirmation of the values of liberty that support all rights, including women''s rights.ISSUE 5. Is Abortion Immoral?YES: Don Marquis, from "Why Abortion Is Immoral," The Journal of Philosophy (April 1989)NO: Jane English, from "Abortion and the Concept of a Person," Canadian Journal of Philosophy (October 1975)Professor of philosophy Don Marquis argues that abortion is generally wrong for the same reason that killing an innocent adult human beingis generally wrong: it deprives the individual of a future that he or she would otherwise have. Philosopher Jane English (1947-1978) asserts that there is no well

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