"One of the most interesting features of the book is Kellenberger's
attempt to show how standard notions such as rights, obligations,
and virtues are recast and defended from the point of view of relationship
morality. This is needed because, if he is right, the existing moral
absolutist accounts are unsatisfactory and the challenge issued
by moral relativism is unmet. . . . The audience for the work extends
far beyond moral philosophers. It will interest political theorists,
anthropologists, theologians, and sociologists. It ranges across
moral thought, religious reflection, feminism, and ethnography.
And because it is written plainly and is rich with illustrations,
it could be suitable as a text in advanced undergraduate and graduate
classes. It is also accessible to a general audience, provided it
is literate and is willing to think hard about moral issues."-John
Kekes, SUNY, Albany
"Kellenberger's book is thoughtful, evocative, well researched,
and informative. He has managed to pull together a notable range
of examples to illustrate his thesis that a proper understanding
of person-person relationships can untangle differences between
relativists and antirelativists. . . . Examples include abortion,
marital fidelity, the distribution of justice, famine relief, genital
mutilation-all sensitive to such non-Western cultures as tribal
Africa, Buddhism, and Hinduism. . . . This book should find its
place in many courses in ethics, philosophy of social science, cultural
theory, and other courses concerned with multicultural themes."-Michael
Krausz, Bryn Mawr College
This book aims to clarify the debate between moral relativists
and moral absolutists by showing what is right and what is wrong
about each of these positions, by revealing how the phenomenon of
moral diversity is connected with moral relativism, and by arguing
for the importance of relationships between persons as key to reaching
a satisfactory understanding of the issues involved in the debate.