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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... true , as Harry V. Jaffa has written , that " Mill is very clear that he presupposes moral characters already formed ... true that Freud knew that freedom in a civilized society cannot be attained without paying the price of moral ...
... true freedom " consists in doing what is right and good , that is , it is dependent on virtuous action . Aristotle said it best : " Every man should be responsible to others , nor should any be allowed to do just as he pleases ; for ...
... true only if there were no competing values that mattered . But since that is not the case , since social well - being counts for something , as does public order , it cannot be said that the more rights , pluralism , and tolerance we ...
... true liberty . If a moderate level of social constraints is necessary to personal and social well - being , and to ordered liberty as well , then it is clear that the depth and range of today's psychological and social disorders will ...
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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 |