A woman becomes pregnant through in vitro fertilization by her son-in-law so her infertile daughter will have a child to raise. Is this arrangement the epitome of mother love, a perversion of family structure, or a rational solution to a medical dilemma? At the end of the 20th century, this kind of ethical uncertainty is found everywhere. "Morality USA" charts our confusion, untangling conflicting traditions and exploring our culture's moral ambiguity. "Moral USA" asserts that moral diversity cannot, and should not, be suppressed. It calls for recognition of the multiplicity of moral structures that exist in the United States and argues that we need to think about morality as local, contingent, and revisable, a product of argument and compromise, not as a self-evident truth or the self-interest of the powerful. Controversial and comprehensive, "Morality USA" defines the moral zeitgeist in ways that will spark debate and contemplation across the political and social spectrum.

Contributions by: Corinne Squire