The Assault on ReasonPenguin, 2007 - 308 páginas A visionary analysis of how the politics of fear, secrecy, cronyism, and blind faith has combined with the degration of the public sphere to create an environment dangerously hostile to reason At the time George W. Bush ordered American forces to invade Iraq, 70 percent of Americans believed Saddam Hussein was linked to 9/11. Voters in Ohio, when asked by pollsters to list what stuck in their minds about the campaign, most frequently named two Bush television ads that played to fears of terrorism. We live in an age when the thirty-second television spot is the most powerful force shaping the electorate's thinking, and America is in the hands of an administration less interested than any previous administration in sharing the truth with the citizenry. Related to this and of even greater concern is this administration's disinterest in the process by which the truth is ascertained, the tenets of fact-based reasoning-first among them an embrace of open inquiry in which unexpected and even inconvenient facts can lead to unexpected conclusions. How did we get here? How much damage has been done to the functioning of our democracy and its role as steward of our security? Never has there been a worse time for us to lose the capacity to face the reality of our long-term challenges, from national security to the economy, from issues of health and social welfare to the environment. As The Assault on Reason shows us, we have precious little time to waste. Gore's larger goal in this book is to explain how the public sphere itself has evolved into a place hospitable to reason's enemies, to make us more aware of the forces at work on our own minds, and to lead us to an understanding of what we can do, individually and collectively, to restore the rule of reason and safeguard our future. Drawing on a life's work in politics as well as on the work of experts across a broad range of disciplines, Al Gore has written a farsighted and powerful manifesto for clear thinking. |
Otras ediciones - Ver todas
The Assault on Reason: Our Information Ecosystem, from the Age of Print to ... Al Gore Vista previa limitada - 2008 |
The Assault on Reason: Our Information Ecosystem, from the Age of Print to ... Al Gore Vista previa limitada - 2007 |
Términos y frases comunes
ability abuses activities actually administration American attack authority balances become believe branch called campaign cause century checks citizens claimed communication companies concerned Congress connection Constitution continued course Court create crisis danger debate decisions democracy democratic dominance effect effort evidence example executive fact faith fear feel force Founders freedom George global hands human ideas important increased independent individuals interest Internet Iraq issues John judges leaders majority March mass means military nation nature nuclear operators opinions person political present President Bush printed protect question reason representative Republican response result role rule Saddam Senate September television terrorism terrorist Thomas Jefferson threat tion torture truth United vote warnings Washington weapons White House wrote York
Referencias a este libro
Female Offenders: Critical Perspectives and Effective Interventions Ruth T. Zaplin Vista previa limitada - 2008 |
The Educated Person: Toward a New Paradigm for Liberal Education Donal G. Mulcahy Vista previa limitada - 2008 |