The Morality of Gay Rights: An Exploration in Political Philosophy »

Does society have a moral obligation to recognize gay rights? This rich text presents a comprehensive exploration of the connection between gay rights and political philosophy. The author discusses the writing of contemporary political and legal philosophers-including Rawls, Walzer, Nussbaum, Sandel, Rorty and Dworkin-to evaluate how their theoretical frameworks fit the specific gay rights controversies, such as same-sex marriage and parenting by lesbians and gay men, that are part of our nation's political and legal debates. With its well-written descriptions of the key texts and its accessible, persuasive arguments, this book belongs on the shelf of every citizen who is serious about gay rights.

Andrew Koppelman

Ball is very knowledgeable, and he writes beautifully. One of his main strengths is his marvelously clear, scrupulously accurate exposition of recent debates in political philosophy.

1. NEUTRAL LIBERALISM
1. Rawls's Political Liberalism
2. Rawls from a Gay Rights Perspective
3. Dworkin's Liberal Equality and Moral Bracketing
4. The Later Dworkin: Individual Ethics and the Liberal Society

2. PRAGMATIC LIBERALISM
1. Rorty's Pragmatism
2. Rorty from a Gay Rights Perspective
3. Posner's Pragmatism and Human Sexuality
4. Rational Man as Moral Man

3. MORAL LIBERALISM
1. Needs, Capabilities, and the Leading of Full Human Lives
2. Relationships, Attachments, and Autonomy
3. Moral Liberalism and Gay Rights

4. COMMUNITARIANISM
1. Sandellian Values and Communities
2. The Role of Community in the Lives of Lesbians and Gay Men
3. Walzer and Justice
4. Internal Social Criticism: Same-Sex Marriage and Parenting by Lesbians and Gay Men

5. POSTMODERNISM
1. Foucault and Sexual Ethics
2. Agency vs. Autonomy in Foucault's Late Writings
3. Codes of Conduct and a Gay and Lesbian Sexual Ethic
Notes