Ethics and Activism by Michael L Gross
Responsible citizens are expected to combine ethical judgement with judiciously exercised social activism to preserve the moral foundation of democratic society and prevent political injustice. But do they? Utilizing a research model integrating insights from rational choice theory and cognitive developmental psychology this book, first published in 1997, carefully explores three exemplary cases of morally inspired activism: Jewish rescue in wartime Europe, abortion politics in the United States, and peace and settler activism in Israel. From all three analyses a single conclusion emerges: the most politically competent individuals are, most often, the least morally competent. This is the central paradox of political morality. These findings cast doubt on strong models of political morality characterized by enlightened moral reasoning and concerted political action while affirming alternative weak models that fuse activism with sectarian moral interests. They provide empirical support to further upend the liberal vision of democratic character, education, and society.
"The cognitive epistemological approach provides a coherent explanation of individual-level reasoning and its link to preference formation.." Richard W. Wilson, World Politics
"Gross engages in a rich application of theoretical principles to empirical data....[He] melds the psychologies of cognitive development and collective action into an integrated research model and then applies this model to the rescue of Jews in wartime France and Holland, to pro-life and pro-choice abortion activism in the US, and to the Gush Emunium and Peace Now moevements in Israel." Choice
"This book will appeal to those who are already convinced by rational choice theory." Stjepan G. Mestrovic, Contemporay Sociology
"Gross engages in a rich application of theoretical principles to empirical data....[He] melds the psychologies of cognitive development and collective action into an integrated research model and then applies this model to the rescue of Jews in wartime France and Holland, to pro-life and pro-choice abortion activism in the US, and to the Gush Emunium and Peace Now moevements in Israel." Choice
"This book will appeal to those who are already convinced by rational choice theory." Stjepan G. Mestrovic, Contemporay Sociology
Gross, Michael L.: - Michael L. Gross is a professor in and the head of the School of Political Science at the University of Haifa, Israel. His articles have appeared in Political Studies, Social Forces, the New England Journal of Medicine, Political Research Quarterly, the Journal of Applied Philosophy, the American Journal of Bioethics, the Journal of Military Ethics, the Journal of Medical Ethics, and Political Psychology. His books include Ethics and Activism (Cambridge University Press, 1997), Bioethics and Armed Conflict (2006), Moral Dilemmas of Modern War: Torture, Assassination and Blackmail in an Age of Asymmetric Conflict (Cambridge University Press, 2010), and an edited volume, Military Medical Ethics for the 21st Century (2013). He serves on regional and national bioethics committees in Israel and has led workshops and lectured on battlefield ethics, medicine, and national security for the US Army Medical Department at Walter Reed Medical Center, the US Naval Academy, the International Committee of Military Medicine, the Dutch Ministry of Defense, and the Medical Corps and National Security College of the Israel Defense Forces.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780521580977 |
| ISBN 10 | 0521580978 |
| Title | Ethics and Activism |
| Author | Michael L Gross |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| Year published | 1997-08-28 |
| Number of pages | 320 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |