A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles - Hardcover

Sowell, Thomas

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0688069126 ISBN 13: 9780688069124

Publisher: William Morrow & Co, 1987

Synopsis

Shows how social theorists--from William Godwin and Adam Smith in the eighteenth century to John Kenneth Galbraith and Milton Friedman in the twentieth--have based their thinking on two irreconcilable premises: the constrained and unconstrained vision

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Reviews

Sowell, an economist and author (The Economics and Politics of Race, etc.), presents a provocative analysis of the conflicting visions of human nature that have shaped the moral, legal and economic life of recent times. For the past 200 years, he writes, two visions ofor "gut feelings" abouthow the world works, have dominated: the constrained vision, which views man as unchanged, limited and dependent on evolved social processes (market economies, constitutional law, etc.); and the unconstrained vision, which argues for man's potential and perfectability, and the possibility of rational planning for social solutions. Examining the views of thinkers who reflect these constrained (Adam Smith) and unconstrained (William Godwin) visions, Sowell shows how these powerful and subjective visions give rise to carefully constructed social theories. His discussion of how these conflicting attitudes ultimately produce clashes over equality, social justice and other issues is instructive.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This latest work by Sowell examines two competing visions which shape our debates about the nature of reason, justice, equality, and power. These visions are the "constrained" vision, which sees human nature as unchanging and selfish, and the "unconstrained" vision, in which human nature is malleable and perfectible. The book builds a convincing case that ethical and policy disputes are ultimately based on the differences in these visions. It covers a wide variety of political, philosophical, and economic thought. Although occasionally abstract, this volume is an important contribution to our understanding of current social issues. Recommended for large public and all college and university libraries. Richard C. Schiming, Economics Dept., Mankato State Univ., Minn.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: William Morrow & Co
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 0688069126
• ISBN 13: 9780688069124
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 273