Society at the Crossroads: Choosing the Right Road

By Steven Cord

Book Overview

This in-depth analysis of ethical relativism and its role in contemporary social problems examines the inner attitudes of society and how ethical relativism has created individuals who have no respect... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0971174245
• ISBN13: 9780971174245
• Release Date: April 2003
• Publisher: Aurora Pr
• Length: 390 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.8" x 0.8" x 5.8"

Customer Reviews

thought provoking look at America

In some ways, America has never had it so good. There is more prosperity, less discrimination and great scientific advances. But, America has to deal with involuntary poverty, crime, drug use, violence in the media and falling school standards. While these problems have surface causes, the fundamental cause is a radical change in attitudes, specifically ethical relativism. It asserts that what is right and wrong depends on the person and the day of the week, that ethics is little more than personal opinion. According to the author, it cannot be proven valid, because it asserts that "no ethical standard" is an ethical standard. Also, any society which preaches that ethical standards are personal opinions has to expect social problems, since it imposes a weak restraint on people who disrupt society. How to prove that everyone has a right to life, liberty and property (equal rights)? We should treat things as they are, as an end in itself. Since we have the right to be free to do what we should do, then we have the provable right to be free. Once that happens, we can prove everyone's equal rights to life and property. The author also shows how this can be used to change American society for the better (it starts with totally changing the tax structure, to tax land value instead of production). Be prepared for a mental workout. The book is written for the layman; I would change that to "the layman with more than the usual amount of knowledge of ethics, and philosophy in general." It is very thought-provoking, and well worth reading.

A highly recommended contribution to a national dialogue

Society At The Crossroads: Choosing The Right Road by economist Steven Cord is an informed and informative discussion of human morality for the twenty-first century. Arguing forcefully against the philosophy of "post-modern Ethical Relativism", Professor Cord champions the assertion of full equal rights and the importance of having confidence in moral decisions. A thought-provoking and profound account, Society At The Crossroads is a highly recommended contribution to a national dialogue on the philosophical underpinnings of contemporary social issues, ills, and concerns.