Additional information
by James Q. Wilson (Author)
James Q. Wilson is the former president of the American Political Science Association and adviser to four presidents on issues related to crime, drug abuse, education, and other crises of American cutlure. In this book, he has produced a provocative series of essays related to character development and character policy that sets this important area in perspective. He brings his argument into clear focus by negating that public discussion of character is a conservative pasttime. Rather, the development of character is our collective responsibility. The public interest depends on private virtue. Wilson argues throughout these essays that to have good character one needs to have at least developed a sense of empathy and self control. In various chapters he writes about crime, families, communities and schooling with those two traits-empathy and self-control-as a basis. He presents the current crises of our community in clear perspective: how much can society tolerate? what is the role of the police? the family? what is a moral virtue? Wilson concludes with an argument that all humans have an inborn "moral sense". We are, after all, social beings, dependent on each other and we have an obligation to each other to develop that moral sense if we care about each other. This is a well written, reasoned book by a wise and experienced expert.
Back Jacket
'It is difficult to imagine any subject more crucial to the analysis of social affairs today than that of character. And it is impossible to imagine any book more enlightening on this subject than this collection of essays by one of our most distinguished social thinkers. Ranging from private virtues through public policies, from education through crime, from the 1940s through the 1990s, James Q. Wilson provides original and provocative commentaries on our most urgent problems.' - Gertrude Himmelfarb, Author, The De-Moralization of Society: From Victory Virtues to Modern Values
Author Biography
James Q. Wilson is a professor of management at the University of California at Los Angeles.
