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书名: Humanity: A Moral History of the Twentieth Century
作者: Jonathan Glover (Author)
出版社: Yale University Press (September 1, 2001)
语言: English
ISBN-10: 0300087152
ISBN-13: 978-0300087154
Book Description
This important book confronts the brutal history of the twentieth century to unravel the psychological mystery of why so many atrocities occurred--the Holocaust, Hiroshima, the Gulag, Cambodia, Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and others--and how we can prevent their recurrence. Jonathan Glover finds disturbing similarities in the psychology of those involved with atrocities, yet offers hope that the development of a political and personal moral imagination can empower us to resist all acts of cruelty.
Review
"An ethics academic in Britain, Glover discourses on the dismantlement of absolute morality concepts synonymous with Friedrich Nietzsche, and explicitly put into effect by the twentieth century's terrible tyrants. To describe the release Lenin, Stalin, Hitler, and Pol Pot granted themselves from ordinary morality's prohibitions against killing, Glover quotes their ideological justifications of creating a perfect human society. Having opened this book with Nietzsche's pronouncements that man creates his morals, Glover's linking of mass murder with that philosopher is direct, and, if not an original way of comprehending the sufferings inflicted by dictators, it is worthwhile revisiting for those vexed by the apparent meaninglessness of enormous crimes. Indeed, Glover is a direct writer, not given to the opacity that clouds many a discussion of ethics. For instance, he narrates specific atrocities, and describes the psychological 'traps' the triggermen find themselves in as their rationales for their actions. The 'trap' metaphor extends in Glover's view to events such as World War I, and whatever dispute diplomatic historians will make with that, ethicists will find profit in Glover's not totally bleak survey." -- Gilbert Taylor, Booklist
"An impressive and accessible analysis of 20th-century brutality." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Humanity is a . . . contribution to the immense labor of understanding some of the worst experiences humankind has ever had." -- George Scialabba, Boston Globe
"There is much that is excellent in Humanity, especially Glover's lucid summary of the monstrosities of Stalinism--indispensable." -- Shashi Tharoor, Los Angeles Times
"This is an extraordinary book: brilliant, haunting and uniquely important." -- Steven Pinker, New York Times Book Review
About the Author
Jonathan Glover is director of the Centre of Medical Law and Ethics at King's College, London.
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分类 历史 伦理和道德
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