Debating the Good Society: A Quest to Bridge America's Moral Divide
NPR host Schmookler (The Parable of the Tribes: The Problem of Power in Social Evolution, SUNY, 1995. 2d ed.) has cleverly created a fictional Internet discussion group as the means of presenting a vital topic: the good society. The participants take different positions on the sources of goodness and social order. On one side, the traditionalists argue that human nature is sinful and authority is imperative. On the other side are those who argue that humans are by nature good and will on their own form a good society. Anyone even minimally aware of the state of the world knows that the truth lies in between, and that is where Schmookler leads his audience. One's position here determines one's view of the function of law, authority, education, public policy, and more. Books like this make for an enlightened citizenry and should be welcomed in most libraries.AJohn Moryl, Yeshiva Univ. Lib., New YorkCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.