Profoundly important ethical and political controversies turn on the question of whether biological life is an essential aspect of a human person, or only an extrinsic instrument. Lee and George argue that human beings are physical, animal organisms - albeit essentially rational and free - and examine the implications of this understanding of human beings for some of the most controversial issues in contemporary ethics and politics. The authors argue that human beings are animal organisms and that their personal identity across time consists in the persistence of the animal organisms they are; they also argue that human beings are essentially rational and free and that there is a radical difference between human beings and other animals; criticize hedonism and hedonistic drug-taking; present detailed defenses of the prolife positions on abortion and euthanasia; and defend the traditional moral position on marriage and sexual acts.
- ISBN10 6611146415
- ISBN13 9786611146412
- Publish Date 1 January 2008 (first published 5 November 2007)
- Publish Status Active
- Out of Print 27 September 2011
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Cambridge University Press
- Format eBook
- Pages 233
- Language English