A conflict of visions
Subtitle: ideological origins of political struggles
By: Thomas Sowell.
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 2002
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 292
Subjects: Social values; Ideology; Visions
Description: Sowell makes the case that all political differences have their root in two, mutually antagonistic views of human nature. One view, frequently evoked by left-wing thinkers, suggests that man is perfectible and is labeled "unconstrained." The "constrained" view, advocated by F.A. Hayek, Edmund Burke, Adam Smith and others, sees man as essentially selfish. A supporter of the "constrained" version himself, Sowell looks at how the competing visions influence ideas on social processes and theories of knowledge and reason. He then explores how the competing perspectives condition questions of equality, power, and justice.
Notes: Includes index.