The abuse of evil : the corruption of politics and religion since 9/11 / Richard J. Bernstein.
Material type: TextPublication details: Malden, Mass. : Polity Press, 2005.Description: ix, 145 p. ; 19 cmISBN:- 074563494X (pbk.)
- 9780745634944 (pbk.)
- 170 BER
Item type | Current library | Call number | Copy number | Status | Date due | Barcode | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Standard Loan | Moylish Library Main Collection | 170 BER (Browse shelf(Opens below)) | 1 | Available | 39002100334755 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
Since 9/11 politicians, preachers, conservatives and the media are all speaking about evil. In the past the dicourse about evil in our religious, philosophic and literary traditions has provoked thinking, questioning and inquiry. But today the appeal to evil is being used as a political tool to obscure compex issues, block serious thinking and stifle public discussion and debate.
We are now confronting a clash of mentalities, not a clash of civilisations. One mentality is drawn to absolutes, moral certainties, and simplistic dichotomies of good and evil. The other seriously questions an appeal to absolutes in politics and criticizes the simplistic division of the world into the forces of evil and the forces of good.
In The Abuse of Evil Bernstein challenges the claim that without an appeal to absolutes, we lack the grounds for acting decisively in fighting our enemies. The post 9/11 abuse of evil corrupts both democratic politics and religion. The stakes are high in this clash of mentalities in shaping how we think and act in the world today - and in the future.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 133-137) and index.
Table of contents provided by Syndetics
- Preface (p. vii)
- Introduction (p. 1)
- 1 The Clash of Mentalities: The Craving for Absolutes versus Pragmatic Fallibilism (p. 18)
- 2 The Anticipations and Legacy of Pragmatic Fallibilism (p. 39)
- 3 Moral Certainty and Passionate Commitment (p. 53)
- 4 Evil and the Corruption of Democratic Politics (p. 68)
- 5 Evil and the Corruption of Religion (p. 95)
- Epilogue: What is to be Done? (p. 120)
- Notes (p. 125)
- Works Cited (p. 133)
- Index (p. 138)