More profoundly, Aeschliman argues that a strong revival of family morality is the best means of countering an entropic, self-indulgent culture. The authors see modern capitalism as partly responsible for subverting manners and social order. They argue that consumer society replaces self-control with hedonism, and consumer choice weakens traditions, authority, and manners. Nobody is forcing anybody to make slasher movies or imitate toilet-tongued hooligans. If we do, the fault is in our souls, not the market, which merely gives us what we think we want.
Some authors hint at religion's role.
One wishes they had explored it more. Gentility Recalled is a timely and outstanding explanation of how and why manners matter. His work has appeared in such publications as Modern Age, Crisis , and The Freeman. Religion and Liberty Acton Institute 161 Ottawa NW, Ste.