Moral Passages

This work brings together philosophy, feminist theory and sociology to examine many of today's most pressing social and moral problems. Its basic principle is that knowledge and morality are generated in collective action and it sets this principle in opposition to the individualist theories of ethics. Analyzing how moral theories are implemented, the author looks at historical cases and contemporary moral problems such as teen pregnancy, abortion, contraception and gay rights. She demonstrates how the knowledge and lives of some people are hidden, declared deviant or immoral, while those of others are taken to show the public consensus. For example, the case of Margaret Sanger and her early work on birth control with the anarchist movement is considered. The author argues that the transition from Sanger's early approach to the "planning" methods advocated by later groups marked a major change in the theories of knowledge and morality being officially implemented in the US. The theories of knowledge, morality and truth which underlie the authority of professionals and theorists are also questioned.