All civilized societies share a common desire for internal order and security. For this reason, among others, moral codes and legal structures are developed to give form to social belief systems, to regulate interpersonal relations, and to promulgate ideals of appropriate behavior. But what should society or individuals do when the compelling dictates of personal conscience conflict strongly with statutory law? Can the morality of some be visited upon the rest of society by giving it the authority and power of law? Are there principles that go beyond legal jurisdiction to justify acts of...

This could be the most controversial book yet in the Contemporary Issues Series. Its balanced approach could risk the wrath of advocates and critics alike, offering powerful essays on four key issues: the causes of homosexuality, disputes about the role the courts should play, gays and the military, and religious attitudes toward homosexuality.

Nothing more precious is at stake than how we view ourselves as a nation.
A white-hot flash point has ignited intense arguments over immigration. The source: an influx of illegal aliens crossing U.S. borders; entering major cities; and, in the minds of many, wreaking havoc with depleted resources, job availability, social services, education, and law enforcement. The fear is so strong that politicians have actually suggested building barriers on our borders, denying social services to illegal aliens, and denying citizenship to infants and children. Should we be true to our heritage and...

The 5 November 1996 decision by voters in California to eliminate most forms of state sanctioned affirmative action ignited a civil rights debate. The vote had critics celebrating the dawn of a new era of equal rights, while opponents warned of school and workplace discrimination without the protective blanket of affirmative action.

The actual and potential conflict between America's three prominent generations the under 35 Generation X, the over 35 Baby Boomers, and the over 65 Elderly seems more pronounced each year due to financial burdens, social concerns, and political agendas.
Xers are perceived as being disaffected from society, apathetic, and politically unsavvy. They live in an environment of ultra-uncertainty and tremendous expectations. Were the Boomers the last generation to make it, and will the demands of the elderly deny the twenty-somethings their future?
A powerful, yet quite varied voting bloc,...

Gathers essays by Seneca, Thomas Aquinas, David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Joyce Carol Oates, Jack Kevorkian, and Thomas S. Szasz that deal with the history, nature, morality, and rationality of suicide.

From the blaming of Princess Diana's death on news photographers to the public apology by CNN over its erroneous Vietnam-nerve-gas story, journalism and the American media in general are being placed under the microscope. The media-now more powerful than ever before due to computer advances, cable television, and the internet-controls our opinions, tastes, and, as some would have us believe, our actions.
But has the media shed its ethics and gotten completely out of control? Has the quest to get the big scoop crippled the news media into believing "first" is better than factual? To whom...

What, in today's seemingly enlightened society, compels a bigot? How do prejudice and hatred emerge, and sometimes lead to such horrific violence? What can be done to overcome this subversive social undercurrent? This concise and relevant collection of essays explores the definitions, origins, and outcomes of intolerance in America.

The amazing transformation of society brought about by the wide dispersion of computers has given rise to new moral dilemmas. With the rapid development of this technology, the impact of computers on privacy, personal identity, intellectual property, and the form and practice of democracy is becoming more apparent every day. Inevitably, this penetration of computer technology into our private and social lives has a moral dimension, which raises questions about our conduct and requires moral reflection and decision-making. The twenty-six groundbreaking essays collected in this insightful...

This important new collection not only presents some of the major debates in the current research on sexual harassment, but also attempts to demonstrate the need for further study of the problem. Increasing attention has been paid to sexual harassment but its meaning, nature, and remedy have eluded researchers and public officials. Since the late 1970s there have been many scientific studies that have investigated the frequency, causes, and effects of sexual harassment. One of the problems that plague these studies is the attempts to get a clear-cut definition and description of the problem....