Post-Intellectualism and the Decline of Democracy: The Failure of Reason and Responsibility in the Twentieth Century
Our society's institutional infrastructures--our democratic political system, economic structures, legal practices, and educational establishment--were all created as intellectual outgrowths of the Enlightenment. All our cultural institutions are based on the intellectual idea that an enlightened citizenry could govern its affairs with reason and responsibility. In the late 20th century, however, we are witnessing the disintegration of much of our cultural heritage. Wood argues that this is...
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This examination of Western civilization's cultural turmoil presents a new and innovative social theory, arguing that we have evolved into a post-intellectual culture-a society characterized by information overload, increasing illiteracy, loss of critical thinking, and psychological isolation. Booknews Wood (radio-television-film, California State U.-Northridge) sees in the past few decades that people have become unable to understand their social and scientific environment, or to make selfless and long-range decisions for the good of society, and have surrendered their government to special interests and specialized technocrats. He introduces the concept of post- intellectualism and surveys some of the personal, social, and political consequences he fears. He also looks at concerns and questions on reversing the effects of the progress paradox and offers ten recommendations, most involving pressuring government for change. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Figures and TablesForewordPrefacePt. 1Orientation: The Concept of Post-Intellectualism11Our Intellectual Foundations32Emergence of Post-Intellectualism193Four Attributes of Post-Intellectualism354Underlying Determinants of Post-Intellectualism49Pt. 2Personal Consequences of Post-Intellectualism655Illiteracy: The Brave New Mega-Mediated World676The Fishbowl Society: Loss of Privacy857Cognitive Chaos: The Data Daze998Isolation and Loss of Direction: Disoriented We Despair113Pt. 3Social Consequences of Post-Intellectualism1319Hyper-Urbanization: Losing Our Way in the Concrete Jungle13310Economic Destitution: Bankruptcy of Fiscal Theory14511Environmental Decay: Damn the Resources, Full Speed Ahead!15912Moral Collapse: Sex, Lies, Violence, and Videotape173Pt. 4Political Consequences of Post-Intellectualism18713Retribalization: Fragmenting the Global Village18914Democracy and Responsibility: The Freedom Dilemma20115Democratic Decline: The Dream Grows Dim21316Control and Manipulation: Alternatives to Anarchy229Pt. 5Prognosis: Future Directions and Considerations24117Concerns and Questions24318Steps Toward Solutions255Selected Bibliography269Index285
\ BooknewsWood (radio-television-film, California State U.-Northridge) sees in the past few decades that people have become unable to understand their social and scientific environment, or to make selfless and long-range decisions for the good of society, and have surrendered their government to special interests and specialized technocrats. He introduces the concept of post- intellectualism and surveys some of the personal, social, and political consequences he fears. He also looks at concerns and questions on reversing the effects of the progress paradox and offers ten recommendations, most involving pressuring government for change. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)\ \
