Final answer:
The unraveling of society's moral fabric is suggested by evidence of increased unethical behavior and societal norms being disregarded. Declining crime rates and strong social cohesion would typically indicate otherwise, whereas increased legislation on moral issues could signal a perceived need to reinforce the moral fabric.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of the 'moral fabric' of society refers to the shared ethical standards and social norms that bind a community together and dictate acceptable behavior. When considering whether this fabric is unraveling, one must look for evidence of widespread deviation from these standards. Option A), increased legislation on moral issues, suggests that there may be a perception of moral decline, leading to a perceived need to control behavior through law. Option B), declining crime rates, would typically indicate an intact moral fabric, as crimes often reflect ethical breaches. Option C), a rise in unethical behavior, would directly imply that the moral fabric is being challenged if more individuals disregard the societal norms and engage in behavior considered unethical. Finally, Option D), strong social cohesion, is evidence against the moral fabric unraveling, as it indicates a strong communal bond and shared values.
Looking at options C and D, we could infer that C) a rise in unethical behavior, if substantiated, would be a more direct evidence of the moral fabric coming unraveled. Ethical behavior, along with social censure and reputation, plays a pivotal role in the sociological framework of society. Without a common moral ground, the structure of social life would be severely compromised. Postmodern ethics even discuss the decline of universal moral codes and the rise of individual determinations of morality, further complicating the collective sense of what is considered 'moral'.