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"The Ethics of Sex: An Introduction systematically and comprehensively examines the ethical issues surrounding the concept of sex. It addresses important questions such as: How to approach questions of sexual ethics in a philosophical way? Must we give affirmative consent to all sexual activity and what would be the impact of implementing an affirmative consent standard into law? Should we promote monogamy as the best way to live? Can the tools of behavioural economics offer insights into the issues of sexual ethics? What constitutes harassment? How does the state involve itself in the private sexual lives of its citizens and is it justified in doing so? What privacy issues arise within relationships due to the development of technology? What ethical issues may arise as the result of future technological developments? Including discussion questions and suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter The Ethics of Sex is the perfect philosophical introduction to the perennially topical issue, and ideal reading for students taking courses within the fields of applied ethics, sociology, law, religion and politics"--

"David Hume (1711-1776) is perhaps best known for his treatises on problems of epistemology, skepticism and causation. A less familiar side of his intellectual achievement is his work on legal and political theory. David Hume's Political Theory examines Hume's diverse writings on law and government and argues that the philosopher had developed a coherent and persuasive theory of politics." "Through close textual analysis, Neil McArthur suggests that the key to Hume's political theory lies in its distinction between barbarous and civilized government. In this study, the author explores Hume's argument that a society's progress from barbarism to civilization depends on the legal and political system by which it is governed. In contrast to many Humean scholars, McArthur demonstrates that the skepticism apparent in much of Hume's work does not necessarily entail a strict conservative ideology; in fact, Hume's political theory emphasized many liberal virtues as well."--Jacket

Hume's writings, taken as a whole, address a dazzlingly broad range of topics. I argue that they do so as part of a coherent and interesting philosophical programme. While Hume's doctrine of the general point of view provides an attractive way of understanding the process of moral judgement, it raises the threat of parochialism – that is, it potentially makes us prey to the limitations and prejudices of our society. I show that Hume endorses what I call "engaged cosmopolitanism", which provides the resources to explain how we can, under certain circumstances, escape such parochialism. Engaged cosmopolitanism is the product of a particular sort of society – one that is open and commercial, and that governed by a system of equitable laws. Like Mandeville, Hume rejects the suspicion of commerce and "luxury" that was prevalent during his time. But he provides supporters of commercial society with a justification that does not, in contrast to Mandeville's writings, abandon notions of morality altogether. On the contrary, he makes commerce a precondition to a society's moral development. And he further links this development to a certain type of liberal political institutions, thus giving such institutions a moral basis.

Introduction fragile freedoms : the global struggle for human rights / Steven Lecce, Neil McArthur, Arthur Schafer -- Human rights : past and future / Anthony Grayling -- A history of violence / Steven Pinker -- Capabilities, entitlements, rights : supplementation and critique / Martha Nussbaum -- Culture, identity, and human rights / Kwame Anthony Appiah -- Indigenous love, law, and land in Canada's constitution / John Borrows -- Legal challenges in a changing world / Baroness Helena Kennedy -- Women and the struggle for human rights / Germaine Greer.

Perspectives from philosophy, psychology religious studies, economics, and law on the possible future of robot-human sexual relationships. Sexbots are coming. Given the pace of technological advances, it is inevitable that realistic robots specifically designed for people's sexual gratification will be developed in the not-too-distant future. Despite popular culture's fascination with the topic, and the emergence of the much-publicized Campaign Against Sex Robots, there has been little academic research on the social, philosophical, moral, and legal implications of robot sex. This book fills the gap, offering perspectives from philosophy, psychology, religious studies, economics, and law on the possible future of robot-human sexual relationships. Contributors discuss what a sex robot is, if they exist, why we should take the issue seriously, and what it means to "have sex" with a robot. They make the case for developing sex robots, arguing for their beneficial nature, and the case against it, on religious and moral grounds; they consider the subject from the robot's perspective, addressing such issues as consent and agency; and they ask whether it is possible for a human to form a mutually satisfying, loving relationship with a robot. Finally, they speculate about the future of human-robot sexual interaction, considering the social acceptability of sex robots and the possible effect on society.

This book is based upon a lecture series that took place between September 2013 and May 2014 to inaugurate the new Canadian Museum for Human Rights. It brings together some of the most influential contemporary thinkers on the theory and practice of human rights.