Publisher's Synopsis
At the end of the 20th century, many fear that the bonds holding civil society together have come undone. Yet, as Dennis Wrong shows us, our generation is not alone in fearing a breakdown of social ties and a descent into violent conflict. Modern masters such as Hobbes, Rousseau, Freud, Mead, Parsons, Marx, Durkheim and Weber tried to understand what in human nature provokes social co-operation and solidarity and what arouses conflict and chaos.;To minimize discord and promote civility, society must grasp the psychological and sociological elements of human nature involved in attaining that end. The author affords a perspective on our own efforts to create a well-functioning system that allows for productive and meaningful lives and remains open to change and growth. This book reveals the individual and social processes that offer potential for reconciliation in the present and the future.
