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A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles

by: Thomas Sowell

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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 303.372
EAN: 9780465002054
Edition: Revised
ISBN: 0465002056
Label: Basic Books
Languages: EnglishOriginal LanguageEnglishUnknownEnglishPublished
Manufacturer: Basic Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 352
Publication Date: June 05, 2007
Publisher: Basic Books
Studio: Basic Books

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ISBN13: 9780465002054
Condition: NEW
Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.

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Editorial Review:Controversies in politics arise from many sources, but the conflicts that endure for generations or centuries show a remarkably consistent pattern. In this classic work, Thomas Sowell analyzes the two competing visions that shape our debates about the nature of reason, justice, equality, and power: the "constrained" vision, which sees human nature as unchanging and selfish, and the "unconstrained" vision, in which human nature is malleable and perfectible. He describes how these two radically opposed views have manifested themselves in the political controversies of the past two centuries, including such contemporary issues as welfare reform, social justice, and crime. Updated to include sweeping political changes since its first publication in 1987, this revised edition of A Conflict of Visions offers a convincing case that ethical and policy disputes circle around the disparity between both outlooks.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- Useful for understanding why party affiliations.
I found this book useful for understanding why some people are Democrats while others are Republicans. I found Sowell descriptions of Republicans a little left of center (negative) for my liking.

But, let me put my understanding in my own words...

Why do some people vote Democrat while others vote Republican?

It has to do with their different world visions...as Sowell points out!

Imagine a malleable, clay sculpture of the Mona Lisa rendered with ... Read More

Rating:

- Puzzle solved
I have always wondered the psychological reasons why different political views see the same situation so differently yet each so consistently. Why do liberals most often attack conservatives as stupid or mean? Why do conservatives fight less ardently for their political goals? This book explains from several different angles the two main strains of thought that make up the modern political struggle. Are the solutions to all our problems just to revise our system of government and put the smartest ... Read More

Rating:

- A Pox on both these views
It is possible to believe that humans can progress, even radically progress without believing in idealistic ungrounded fairy tales. We stand today on the verge of technology capable of changing the very nature of what it means to be human. So an analysis limited to the the immutable limitations of human beings on the one hand or denying any such limitations on the other is a bit limited. What is needed is a moving moment by moment realism as to the current limits while working to overcome as many ... Read More

Rating:

- Brilliant Thesis from a Brilliant Thinker
This is a 5 star book solely on the basis of its brilliant thesis. Dr. Sowell argues that the political divide can be attributed to humanity's understanding of how the world works and human nature. This understanding can be categorized by two visions, the unconstrained vision and the constrained vision. Those with the constrained vision see humanity and society as imperfect but with rules, traditions, and policies able to provide as much freedom and equality as possible within those constraints. Those ... Read More

Rating:

- Not as Simple as it seems
On reading the entire block of 60-odd reviews, I find that more than half of them, even while admiring Sowell's evenhandedness, misstate the carefulness of the book's positions. In the an attempt to pay tribute to the brilliance of this (rather dense, historical & philosophical ) book, I'll try to correct this.

This book presents two visions of the world. However, contrary to most of the reviewers, the difference is not about Liberals vs. Conservatives. It is about the difference between two ... Read More

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