Ethical Issues: Perspectives for Canadians

Robert A. Kominar is a professor of law and justice at Laurentian
University.

This text centres on the question of whether there can be a uniquely
Canadian perspective on ethics. Though Western culture traditionally has
aspired to an ethics that is universal in scope, the postmodern
challenge has caused many to restrict their focus to specific moral
problems. Exemplifying this recent trend, Ethical Issues comprises
academic articles, legal materials, and media pieces that reflect upon
moral and social issues (e.g., abortion, euthanasia, the status of
aboriginal peoples, environmentalism, and employment equity) that are
currently being publicly debated in Canada. Though not all of the
authors are Canadian, and not all pieces are explicitly Canadian in
content, the editor has selected a good range of topical issues for
discussion in Canadian classrooms.

The book’s perspective is both a benefit and a hindrance. It is
beneficial in that one could reasonably expect students to have thought
about, or at least have opinions on, many of the issues discussed. In
addition, by encouraging students to follow the continuing debate on
these issues, the book helps foster a more critical involvement with the
media, a not insignificant achievement in itself. On the negative side,
the localization of moral issues in specific times and places will cause
the work to become dated quickly. Supplementation with more current
debates is therefore necessary.

All in all, however, the collection provides an interesting focus and
would benefit undergraduates taking an introductory course in philosophy
or contemporary moral issues.