Ekland-Olson, Sheldon

Who lives, who dies, who decides? abortion, neonatal care, assisted dying, capital punishment Sheldon Ekland-Olson - New York Routledge, 2012. - xxiv, 424 p. 25 cm. - Contemporary sociological perspectives .

Contents:
A single question
An exclusionary movement is born
Legal reform to eliminate defectives
Redrawing the boundaries of protected life
Crystallizing events and ethical principles
A bolt from the blue : abortion is legalized
Man's law or God's will
Inches from life
Should the baby live?
Limits to tolerable suffering
Alleviating suffering and protecting life
God, duty, and life worth living
Assisted dying
Removing the protective boundaries of life
A campaign to stop the executions
The pendulum swings, the debate continues
Lessons learned

"Issues of life and death such as abortion, assisted suicide, capital punishment, and others are among the most contentious in many societies. Whose rights are protected? How do these rights and protections change over time and who makes those decisions? Based on the author's award-winning and hugely popular undergraduate course at The University of Texas, this book explores these questions and the fundamentally sociological processes that underlie the quest for morality and justice in human societies. The author's goal is not to advocate any particular moral "high ground," but to shed light on the social movements and social processes that are at the root of these seemingly personal moral questions"--Provided by publisher.

9780415892476 (pbk : acid-free paper) 0415892473 (pbk : acid-free paper)

2011038993


Life--Moral and ethical aspects.
Death--Moral and ethical aspects.
Suffering--Moral and ethical aspects.

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