Major thinkers in welfare
Subtitle: contemporary issues in historical perspective
By: Vic George
Publisher: Policy Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Bristol, UK; Portland, OR
Language: eng
Number of pages: 274
ISBN-13: 9781847427069
Subjects: Public welfare; History
Description: "This book has two virtues: it offers the broadest historical range of any study of ideas about welfare, and it uses the analysis to show how social context and philosophical approach shape thinking about social provision and the good society," Peter Taylor-Gooby FBA, AcSS, Director ESRC Risk Programme.

"In this scholarly and highly readable book, Professor George traces the history of welfare thought back to the time of Plato and Aristotle. In doing so, he adds a new dimension to contemporary debates about the ends and means of social policy and our perceptions of its intellectual lineage." Professor Robert Pinker.

This is the first book to examine the views of a number of theorists from ancient times to the 19th century on a range of welfare issues: wealth, poverty and inequality; slavery; gender issues and the family; child rearing and education; crime and punishment; and the role of the government vis-a-vis market provision. The book also looks at the values of the various theorists as well as their perception of human nature, for these tend to underpin their welfare views. The book will enable the reader to view contemporary issues in historical context and will be essential reading for students of social policy, gender issues, community care, social work and sociology. --Book Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 255-265) and index.
Table of contents: title: Classical Athens; title: The Graeco-Roman world; title: Early Christianity; title: The Renaissance; title: The Reformation; title: Absolutism; title: Liberalism; title: Early feminism; title: A welfare society; title: The market, laissez-faire and welfare; title: Democracy and welfare; title: Classical Marxism and welfare; title: Positive freedom and state welfare.