Doing Well and Doing Good - Money Giving and Caring in a Free Society

Ever since the first coin was minted in the seventh century B.C., money has been central to human society as one of the elemental forces driving the affairs of individuals and nations. But in spite of mankind's preoccupation with the making of money, little attention has been paid to the meaning of money in modern society. Modern society has also overlooked questions about the culture of giving and caring. What motivates one to give? Why should someone care for those outside his or her own social circle-especially for the poor dwelling on the fringes of society? How a society answers questions such as these is critical in determining the character of that society. And yet, these are questions that modern societies have largely ignored. Doing Well and Doing Good addresses this blind spot, exploring the big ideas that shaped the rise of the unique Western tradition of giving and caring by examining selected writings from some of the most influential thinkers of Western society. Sometimes controversial, often challenging, always illuminating, the issues of money, giving, and caring are vital themes that stand at the crossroads of many issues in contemporary society. They are topics that no responsible citizen or leader in a free society can afford to ignore.…