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Voltaire's Bastards

The Dictatorship of Reason in the West

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With a new Introduction by the author, this “erudite and brilliantly readable book” (The Observer, London) dissects the political, economic, and social origins of Western civilization, revealing a culture ensnared by simplistic notions of rationality and expertise. The Western world presents numerous paradoxes: we champion individual freedom yet face immense pressure to conform; business leaders identify as capitalists while functioning as corporate employees; governments are labeled democracies, yet political participation is minimal; and despite complaints about invasive government, our systems—legal, educational, financial, social, cultural, and legislative—are deteriorating. John Ralston Saul argues that these issues stem from our blind faith in reason. Over the last 400 years, “rational elites” have transformed the modern West into a vast, incomprehensible machine run by process-minded experts—“Voltaire’s bastards”—whose commitment to scientific management lacks both sense and morality. This outlook pervades politics, art, business, the military, entertainment, science, finance, academia, and journalism, leading to a technologically advanced civilization where ordinary citizens are increasingly marginalized in decision-making. In this incisive critique of modern society and its roots—described as “pages [that] explode with insight, style and intellectual rigor” (Camille Paglia, The Washington Post)—Saul challenges the pol

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Voltaire's Bastards, John Ralston Saul

Lingua
Pubblicato
1993
Rilegatura
(In brossura),
Condizioni del libro
In buone condizioni
Prezzo
8,19 €

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3,7
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Titolo
Voltaire's Bastards
Sottotitolo
The Dictatorship of Reason in the West
Lingua
Inglese
Pubblicato
1993
Formato
In brossura
Pagine
656
ISBN10
0679748199
ISBN13
9780679748199
Serie
Valutazione
3,65 su 5
Descrizione
With a new Introduction by the author, this “erudite and brilliantly readable book” (The Observer, London) dissects the political, economic, and social origins of Western civilization, revealing a culture ensnared by simplistic notions of rationality and expertise. The Western world presents numerous paradoxes: we champion individual freedom yet face immense pressure to conform; business leaders identify as capitalists while functioning as corporate employees; governments are labeled democracies, yet political participation is minimal; and despite complaints about invasive government, our systems—legal, educational, financial, social, cultural, and legislative—are deteriorating. John Ralston Saul argues that these issues stem from our blind faith in reason. Over the last 400 years, “rational elites” have transformed the modern West into a vast, incomprehensible machine run by process-minded experts—“Voltaire’s bastards”—whose commitment to scientific management lacks both sense and morality. This outlook pervades politics, art, business, the military, entertainment, science, finance, academia, and journalism, leading to a technologically advanced civilization where ordinary citizens are increasingly marginalized in decision-making. In this incisive critique of modern society and its roots—described as “pages [that] explode with insight, style and intellectual rigor” (Camille Paglia, The Washington Post)—Saul challenges the pol