"Patrick Lee and Robert P. George argue that human beings are physical, animal organisms - albeit essentially rational and free - and examine the implications of this understanding of human beings for some of the most controversial issues in contemporary ethics and politics. The authors argue that human beings are animal organisms and that their personal identity across time consists in the persistence of the animal organisms they are; they also argue that human beings are essentially rational and free and that there is a radical difference between human beings and other animals; furthermore, they criticize hedonism and hedonistic drug-taking, present detailed defenses of the pro-life positions on abortion and euthanasia, and defend the traditional moral position on marriage and sexual acts."--Jacket.