I want to propose that the current philosophical and political notions of the self and the good life current in contemporary liberal U.S. society rests on a narrative incompatible with an understanding of the pluralism of our ideas of the good life particularly with respect to sexual identity, choice, and lifestyle. I will focus on the issue of gay rights, such as partner recognition and legal protection from discrimination, and consider the sociopolitical importance of those rights in the lives of gay individuals. I will also examine the ramifications of recognizing or continuing to deny rights to gay individuals. I will consider these issues in light of the founding articulations of liberal theory formulated by Enlightenments thinkers and the heritage of this thought in 19th and 20th century political philosophy. One of the essential aspects in any account of liberal political philosophy is that the individual be free to live his or her life with value according to such beliefs that endow life.
Problems often arise when such theories are applied to actual lives.
I will argue that the value is not abstract, that it does not and cannot be determined autonomously. What it is possible to value, how one comes to value, and the mechanisms used to determine value originate from a complex set of cultural interactions and practices. Twenty-four hours after receiving either the ES or the IS, these rats are placed in a potentially dangerous situation in which they are at risk. IS rats show behavior that suggests they are anxious whereas ES rats do not show these anxiety behaviors. Physiologically, these observations can be related to serotonin receptors called 5-HT1A receptors that are found on the body of serotonin neurons, located in a brain region called the dorsal raphe nucleus.