A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political StrugglesBasic Books, 2007 M06 5 - 352 pages Thomas Sowell’s “extraordinary” explication of the competing visions of human nature lie at the heart of our political conflicts (New York Times) Controversies in politics arise from many sources, but the conflicts that endure for generations or centuries show a remarkably consistent pattern. In this classic work, Thomas Sowell analyzes this pattern. He describes the two competing visions that shape our debates about the nature of reason, justice, equality, and power: the "constrained" vision, which sees human nature as unchanging and selfish, and the "unconstrained" vision, in which human nature is malleable and perfectible. A Conflict of Visions offers a convincing case that ethical and policy disputes circle around the disparity between both outlooks. |
From inside the book
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Page iv
... Group All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and ...
... Group All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and ...
Page 3
... groups on numerous, unrelated issues. They have different visions of how the world works. It would be good to be able to say that we should dispense with visions entirely, and deal only with reality. But that may be the most utopian ...
... groups on numerous, unrelated issues. They have different visions of how the world works. It would be good to be able to say that we should dispense with visions entirely, and deal only with reality. But that may be the most utopian ...
Page 10
... group these visions into two broad categories— the constrained vision and the unconstrained vision. These will be abstractions of convenience, recognizing that there are degrees in both visions, that a continuum has been dichotomized ...
... group these visions into two broad categories— the constrained vision and the unconstrained vision. These will be abstractions of convenience, recognizing that there are degrees in both visions, that a continuum has been dichotomized ...
Page 20
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Page 33
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Contents
3 | |
9 | |
Visions of Knowledge and Reason 36 | 36 |
Visions of Social Processes 69 | 69 |
Varieties and Dynamics of Visions 102 | 102 |
APPLICATIONS | 131 |
Visions of Equality 133 | 133 |
Other editions - View all
A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles Thomas Sowell Limited preview - 2002 |
A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles Thomas Sowell Limited preview - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
according action Adam Smith articulated assumptions become believers benefits Capitalism cause central centuries Chapter Chicago choices collective common complex conceived concept Concerning Political Justice conclusions Condorcet considered consistent constitutional constrained costs crime dangerous decision-making decisions desirable direct discretion economic Edmund Burke effect Enquiry Concerning Political equality evidence example existing experience fact force freedom given groups Hamilton Hayek Historical Holmes human nature Ibid important individual inequality inherent institutions intellectual intentions interests issues John judges justice kind knowledge lead less Liberty limitations logic Marxism masses means Mind moral opposing opposite particular person political possible premises Press principles produce question rationality reason Reflections regarded role rules seen sense short simply social justice social processes society solution specific systemic theory things Thomas trade-off tradition ultimately unconstrained vision University values whole William Godwin York