Many and the One

by Madsen, Richard; Strong, Tracy B.

• ISBN13: 9780691099934
• ISBN10: 0691099936
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-02-10
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Summary

The war on terrorism, say America's leaders, is a war of Good versus Evil. But in the minds of the perpetrators, the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington were presumably justified as ethically good acts against American evil. Is such polarization leading to a violent "clash of civilizations" or can differences between ethical systems be reconciled through rational dialogue? This book provides an extraordinary resource for thinking clearly about the diverse ways in which humans see good and evil. In nine essays and responses, leading thinkers ask how ethical pluralism can be understood by classical liberalism, liberal-egalitarianism, critical theory, feminism, natural law, Confucianism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Each essay addresses five questions: Is the ideal society ethically uniform or diverse? Should the state protect, ban, or otherwise intervene in ethically based differences? How should disagreements on the rights and duties of citizens be dealt with? Should the state regulate life-and-death decisions such as euthanasia? To what extent should conflicting views on sexual relationships be accommodated? This book shows that contentious questions can be discussed with both incisiveness and civility. The editors provide the introduction and Donald Moon, the conclusion. The contributors are Brian Barry, Joseph Boyle, Simone Chambers, Joseph Chan, Christine Di Stefano, Dale F. Eickelman, Menachem Fisch, William Galston, John Haldane, Chandran Kukathas, David Little, Muhammad Khalid Masud, Carole Pateman, William F. Scheuerman, Adam B. Seligman, James W. Skillen, James Tully, and Lee H. Yearley.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
Introduction: Three Forms of Ethical Pluralism	1	(24)
Richard Madsen
Tracy B. Strong
Part I
Liberal Egalitarian Attitudes toward Ethical Pluralism	25	(17)
William A. Galston
Liberal Egalitarian Platitudes?	42	(13)
Brian Barry
Part II
Ethical Pluralism from a Classical Liberal Perspective	55	(23)
Chandran Kukathas
Ethical Pluralism and Classical Liberalism	78	(11)
James Tully
Part III
Natural Law and Ethical Pluralism	89	(26)
John H. Haldane
Natural Law Reflections on the Social Management of Ethical Pluralism	115	(14)
Joseph Boyle
Part IV
Confucian Attitudes toward Ethical Pluralism	129	(25)
Joseph Chan
Two Strands of Confucianism	154	(7)
Lee H. Yearley
Part V
Islam and Ethical Pluralism	161	(19)
Dale F. Eickelman
The Scope of Pluralism in Islamic Moral Traditions	180	(15)
Muhammad Khalid Masud
Part VI
Ethical Diversity, Tolerance, and the Problem of Sovereignty: A Jewish Perspective	195	(24)
Menachem Fisch
Jewish Responses to Modernity	219	(10)
Adam B. Seligman
Part VII
Conscientious Individualism: A Christian Perspective on Ethical Pluralism	229	(28)
David Little
Pluralism as a Matter of Principle	257	(14)
James W. Skillen
Part VIII
Feminist Attitudes toward Ethical Pluralism	271	(30)
Christine Di Stefano
Feminism and the Varieties of Ethical Pluralism	301	(10)
Carole Pateman
Part IX
Critical Theory and the Challenge of Ethical Pluralism	311	(25)
William E. Scheuerman
Substantive and Procedural Dimensions of Critical Theory	336	(7)
Simone Chambers
Part X
Pluralisms Compared	343	(18)
J. Donald Moon
Contributors	361	(4)
Index	365