Systems of Survival: A Dialogue on the Moral Foundations of Commerce and Politics
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.78 (706 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 0679748164 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 256 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2014-04-23 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
The author of The Death and Life of Great American Cities looks at business fraud and criminal enterprise, overextended government farm subsidies and zealous transit police, to show what happens when the moral systems of commerce collide with those of politics.
David H. Walker said This book has the potential to change how you view the world.. There are many books that I have found inspiring, but this is the only book I have purchased and given away because I thought the ideas in it needed to be shared---and I did this three times and may do it again.The main theme is that humanity has implemented two systems for survival. One, guardianship, that seems to spring from our DNA and is practiced by many social animals on our planet. The other, trade or commerce, that appears to be uniquely human. These are not competing systems, they are complementary. They each have their place and they each have their rules. These rules are often, when not directly opposed, not aligned.For me, the in. "Unusually thought-provoking" according to Thomas Cox. I have seldom read a more thought-provoking, stimulating, and fascinating book than this.The author uses two techniques that are particularly useful in conveying this rich material - Socratic dialog, and inductive reasoning. The wealth of examples and the detailed analysis are compelling, yet as a reader you feel free to disagree, to question, and to challenge the ideas being presented -- all good exercise for the mind.The book's thesis is discussed elsewhere. Suffice it to say I find that thesis highly persuasive, and I plan to put it to the test in coming months. I recommend this book highly.. L Oost said Jane Jacobs disappoints in thesis about moral foundations. Jane Jacobs was the grand old lady of urban planning. It was delightful to read her The Death and Life of Great American Cities. She turned the professional world of urban planning upside down. Professional and traditional urban planning were once and for all discredited. In later years she elaborated on the economy of cities. Jane Jacobs was a true believer in the cultural and economical primacy of cities. In Systems of Survival she researches the moral values in society. Her form is the Platonic dialogue. She introduces two distinct moral syndromes , the commercial and the guardian. The crossing of the borders and the resulting moral dilemm
From Publishers Weekly A sometimes provocative but simplistic discussion of morality in the form of a Platonic dialogue between a Manhattan publisher and his party guests. Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.