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 5
... important phenomena unexplained , or explained only in ad hoc fashion , or by inconsistent assumptions that derive from more than one vision . The purest vision may not be the basis of the most impressive theories , much less the most ...
... important phenomena unexplained , or explained only in ad hoc fashion , or by inconsistent assumptions that derive from more than one vision . The purest vision may not be the basis of the most impressive theories , much less the most ...
Page 7
... important in a number of ways. The most obvious is that policies based on a certain vision of the world have consequences that spread through society and reverberate across the years, or even across generations or centuries. Visions set ...
... important in a number of ways. The most obvious is that policies based on a certain vision of the world have consequences that spread through society and reverberate across the years, or even across generations or centuries. Visions set ...
Page 13
... important than the lives of a hundred million other human beings . But the crucial word here is act . We cannot " prefer ourselves so shamelessly and blindly to others " when we act , Adam Smith said , even if that is the spontaneous or ...
... important than the lives of a hundred million other human beings . But the crucial word here is act . We cannot " prefer ourselves so shamelessly and blindly to others " when we act , Adam Smith said , even if that is the spontaneous or ...
Page 16
... important than his own , and therefore of consistently acting impartially , even when his own interests or those of his family were involved.13 This was not meant as an empirical generalization about the way most people currently ...
... important than his own , and therefore of consistently acting impartially , even when his own interests or those of his family were involved.13 This was not meant as an empirical generalization about the way most people currently ...
Page 18
... importance . Godwin had little use for " those moralists " - quite conceivably meaning Smith- " who think only of stimulating men to good deeds by considerations of frigid prudence and mercenary self- interests , ” instead of seeking to ...
... importance . Godwin had little use for " those moralists " - quite conceivably meaning Smith- " who think only of stimulating men to good deeds by considerations of frigid prudence and mercenary self- interests , ” instead of seeking to ...
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 to Godwin According to Hayek Adam Smith Alexander Hamilton Antoine-Nicolas de Condorcet articulated rationality assumptions benefits Bernard Shaw capabilities causation centuries Chicago Press conceived concept Concerning Political Justice conclusions conflict of visions constrained and unconstrained crime economic Edmund Burke Enquiry Concerning Political equality evidence evolved example existing F. A. Hayek Federalist Papers freedom Historical Picture Hobbes human nature Ibid incentives individual inequality inherent intellectual and moral interests issues John Kenneth Galbraith Legislation and Liberty limitations locus of discretion logic Malthus man’s masses means Milton Friedman Moral Sentiments Myrdal P. T. Bauer particular principles property rights Reflections regarded Revolution in France role Ronald Dworkin rules seen simply social justice social processes social results social visions society specific surrogate decision-makers systemic processes Theory of Moral Third World Thomas Sowell trade-off tradition Tribe unconstrained vision University of Chicago value premises vision of human William Godwin York