The new golden rule : community and morality in a democratic society

A further evolution of communism from the 1921 program of faux liberalization termed by Lenin 'glasnost' and by Stalin, 'perestroika' - "The New World Order" (1991) by Pat ROBERTSON. "Amitai Etzioni has devoted a lifetime of study to the question of what makes a good society, and his work as the founder of the communitarian movement attests to his influence in moving the public debate away from a preoccupation with rights to a balance between individual rights and social responsibilities. In this landmark new book, he invites us to examine how a communitarian society should operate in practice and what values we must bring to our social interactions if we are to achieve stronger and more enduring community ties." "The New Golden Rule takes its title from the familiar adage to "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." But when taken to a society-wide level, the Golden Rule's admonition expands, taking the formulation "respect and uphold society's moral order as you would have society respect and uphold your autonomy to live a full life." The problem facing society today is that many of us are wary of morality and order while others are suspicious of liberty - which in their mind is equated with permissiveness. In an analysis that powerfully cuts this Gordian knot, Etzioni lays out how we can and must have both order and autonomy if we are to create an environment in which individuals and neighborhoods can thrive." "Recognizing that excessive morality and excessive liberty are each a dire threat to the health of a society, Etzioni shows that we have overreacted in recent years by assuming that there must also be a tradeoff between morality and freedom. That need not be the case, he argues, because when order is largely based on moral commitments rather than on the law, and autonomy is regarded as a place in a social space, these two social virtues can reinforce each other. Using this framework, Etzioni studies the implications for the future of community in America and explores the policy implications for governments, community groups, and families."--BOOK JACKET. One of the world's leading sociologists and most quoted intellectuals in America today, Amitai Etzioni has been the subject of numerous profiles in all the major media and has worked both with members of the Clinton Administration and Republican senators on social issues and policy. Now, in this important new book, he invites us to explore how a good society should operate and what values we must bring to our social interactions if we are to achieve stronger and more enduring community ties.As Etzioni has found in his years devoted to researching and studying the subject, the problem facing society today is that half the population is wary of order and morality, while the other half is suspicious of liberty, which is equated with permissiveness. In an in-depth analysis that masterfully cuts this Gordian knot, the author lays out how we can, indeed must, have both order and autonomy if we are to create a society in which communities and individuals can thrive. Recognizing that excessive morality and excessive liberty are each a dire threat to the health of society, Etzioni demonstrates how we have overreacted in recent years by assuming that there must be a tradeoff between morality and freedom. However, this need not be the case, because when order is largely based on moral commitments rather than on the law, and autonomy is regarded as a place in a social space, these two social virtues can reinforce each other.Using this framework, Etzioni studies the implications for the future of diversity in America, the implications for educating the next generation, and our relationships with other societies. He also explores the public policy implications of his observations and how governments, community groups and families can respond and grow.

a Major Statement From The Father Of The Communitarian Movement On How To Restore Moral Pupose Without Sacrificing Our Hard-won Individual Freedoms.

publishers Weekly

a Leading Communitarian Thinker, Sociologist Etzioni Contends Americans Have Overemphasized Individual Rights In Recent Years. In His Searching Treatise, He Seeks To Restore An Equilibrium Between Personal Liberty And The Common Good, Urging The Diverse Strands Of America's Social Fabric To Come Together, To Commit To A Core Of Shared Values That Will Help Renew The Family, Schools And Public Institutions. Arguing That Rights And Responsibilities Go Hand In Hand, He Champions The Two-parent Family, National Service Involving Voluntary Participation In Agencies Such As The Peace Corps And Vista, A Nationally Standardized Public School Curriculum, Community Courts As Alternatives To The Official Judicial System, Schools As Character-building Agents And Devolving Federal Functions To Voluntary Associations And Other Community Bodies. Challenging Liberals And Conservatives Alike, Etzioni, A Professor At George Washington University, Cuts Through A Welter Of Issues, From Bicultural Education To Curbing Alcohol Abuse, In This Timely Contribution To The Debate Over What Constitutes A Good Society. (jan.)

The New Golden Rule - Front Cover More Praise for The New Golden Rule Half-title Title Page Printer's Imprint Dedication / Acknowledgments Quotations from Mannheim / Bates Contents Acknowledgments Preface: Virtue in a Free Society Half-title (2) 1. The Elements of a Good Society 2. Order *and* Autonomy? 3. The Fall and Rise of America 4. Sharing Core Values 5. The Moral Voice 6. The Implications of Human Nature 7. Pluralism Within Unity 8. The Final Arbiters of Community’s Values Notes Preface Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Index Rear Cover: Praise for The New Golden Rule Amitain Etzioni has devoted a lifetime of study to the question of what makes a good society, and his work as a founder of the communitarian movement attests to his influence in moving the public debate away from a preoccupation with rights to a balance between individual rights and social responsibilities. In this text, he looks at how a communitarian society should operate in practice and what values must be brought to social interactions to achieve strong and enduring community ties Explaining how Americans can restore a sense of moral purpose in today's society without sacrificing individuality, a sociologist identifies what has gone wrong and considers the future of diversity in America