Moral Man And Immoral Society: A Study In Ethics And Politics

Moral Man and Immoral Society: A Study in Ethics and Politics is a book written by Reinhold Niebuhr, an influential American theologian and social philosopher. The book was first published in 1932 and has since become a classic in the fields of ethics, political theory, and social philosophy.Niebuhr's central thesis is that while individuals may be capable of acting morally, societies and institutions are inherently immoral. He argues that societies are made up of individuals who are motivated by self-interest and are prone to corruption and injustice. As a result, societies are unable to act in a truly moral way, even if their members may individually strive to do so.Niebuhr explores the implications of this idea for a range of topics, including democracy, international relations, and social justice. He argues that democracy is not a perfect system, as it is vulnerable to the same flaws as any other society. He also critiques the idea of international cooperation, arguing that nations will always prioritize their own interests over the common good.Throughout the book, Niebuhr draws on a range of philosophical and theological traditions, including Christianity, Kantian ethics, and pragmatism. He also engages with the work of other influential thinkers, such as Machiavelli and Marx.Overall, Moral Man and Immoral Society is a thought-provoking and challenging work that continues to be relevant today. It offers a powerful critique of the limitations of human morality and provides insights into the complex relationship between ethics and politics.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Author: Reinhold Niebuhr
Publisher: Kessinger Publishing
Published: 05/05/2006
Pages: 312
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.01lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.70d
ISBN: 9781425496012

Review Citation(s):
Newsweek 07/13/2009 pg. 57

This title is not returnable