The New Freedom: Individualism and Collectivism in the Social Lives of AmericansThe root cause of contemporary American psychological and social disorders, argues William Donohue in this major new book, is the dominant culture's embracement of a fraudulent conception of freedom. In fact, the tension between an individual liberty without limits and the social need for civility and community has created havoc in the lives of many Americans. Conventional wisdom about the nature of freedom is characterized by both the uncoupling of a concept of rights from a concept of responsibilities and by an overweening doctrine of moral neutrality. This preoccupation with individual liberty, to the neglect of other competing values, has left a trail of social discord that will be difficult to redress. Constraint of any kind is now seen as the enemy of liberty, and all that limits or burdens the individual in any way is seen as anathema to freedom. "The New Freedom "critically examines how this new concept of freedom developed historically and why it exploded on the American scene in the 1960s. Its impact on the deepest recesses of American society, including marriage, the family, sexuality, the schools, the churches, and the criminal justice system, are fully explored. The costs have been high. Information on the psychological and social health of Americans suggests that all is not well. But the ultimate cost, says Qonohue, may be the ultimate failure of liberty, as the fraudulent new freedom collides with the human need for community. Sure to be controversial, "The New Freedom "will provide policymakers, social scientists, and specialists in the family, education, and religion a compelling new perspective on old questions. The book will also appeal to general readers who seek to understand the root causes of the nation's unprecedented volume of social and psychological problems. |
From inside the book
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... Never afraid of contro- versy , Professor Horowitz is a model of what a publisher should be , but unfortunately seldom is . My wife , Valerie , was unflinching in her total support of this effort , and to a considerable extent is ...
... never defined as promiscuously as it is today . Beginning with the Greeks , to be free meant to be free from arbitrary and capricious rule . It did not mean freedom from social sanctions . It meant that individuals could freely pursue ...
... never heard of Mill understand exactly what this doctrine means : it means ( a ) the individual should triumph over society , ( b ) moral neutrality should triumph over a moral hierarchy , and ( c ) self- actualization should triumph ...
... never has it been defined more radically than today . What makes the new freedom so unique is its insistence that every individual has a right to be totally liberated from everything that constrains him . The new freedom creates so many ...
... never indulge in value judgments . They simply " let it be . " To profess a belief in moral neutrality is to profess a contempt for tradition . It is to say that all that came before us is without value , and that nothing is in need of ...
Contents
9 | |
The Unburdening of the Individual | 26 |
The Revolt against the Human Condition | 39 |
The Quest for Autonomy | 55 |
The New Man and the New Woman | 65 |
Childrens Rights | 79 |
Origins of the Sexual Revolution | 93 |
The Legitimacy of Illegitimacy | 125 |
The Meaning of Gay Rights | 141 |
The Role of the Family | 147 |
The Role of the Schools | 165 |
The Role of Religion | 183 |
Where Do We Go from Here? | 221 |
Index | 230 |
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The New Freedom: Individualism and Collectivism in the Social Lives of Americans William A. Donohue No preview available - 1995 |