American Utopia and Social Engineering in Literature, Social Thought, and Political History

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Government, Social Policy, Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, American, Social Science, Sociology
Cover of the book American Utopia and Social Engineering in Literature, Social Thought, and Political History by Peter Swirski, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Peter Swirski ISBN: 9781136723384
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: May 9, 2011
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Peter Swirski
ISBN: 9781136723384
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: May 9, 2011
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

The United States today is afflicted with political alienation, militarized violence, institutionalized poverty, and social agony. Worst of all, perhaps, it is afflicted with chronic and acute ahistoricism. America insist on ignoring the context of its present dilemmas. It insists on forgetting what preceded the headlines of today and on denying continuity with history. It insists, in short, on its exceptionalism.

American Utopia and Social Engineering sets out to correct this amnesia. It misses no opportunity to flesh out both the historical premises and the political promises behind the social policies and political events of the period. These interdisciplinary concerns provide, in turn, the framework for the analyses of works of American literature that mirror their times and mores.

Novels considered include: B.F. Skinner and Walden Two (1948), easily the most scandalous utopia of the century, if not of all times; Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1962), an anatomy of political disfranchisement American-style; Bernard Malamud’s God’s Grace (1982), a neo-Darwinian beast fable about morality in the thermonuclear age; Walker Percy’s The Thanatos Syndrome (1986), a diagnostic novel about engineering violence out of America’s streets and minds; and Philip Roth’s The Plot Against America (2004), an alternative history of homegrown ‘soft’ fascism.

With the help of the five novels and the social models outlined therein, Peter Swirski interrogates key aspects of sociobiology and behavioural psychology, voting and referenda procedures, morality and altruism, multilevel selection and proverbial wisdom, violence and chip-implant technology, and the adaptive role of emotions in our private and public lives.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The United States today is afflicted with political alienation, militarized violence, institutionalized poverty, and social agony. Worst of all, perhaps, it is afflicted with chronic and acute ahistoricism. America insist on ignoring the context of its present dilemmas. It insists on forgetting what preceded the headlines of today and on denying continuity with history. It insists, in short, on its exceptionalism.

American Utopia and Social Engineering sets out to correct this amnesia. It misses no opportunity to flesh out both the historical premises and the political promises behind the social policies and political events of the period. These interdisciplinary concerns provide, in turn, the framework for the analyses of works of American literature that mirror their times and mores.

Novels considered include: B.F. Skinner and Walden Two (1948), easily the most scandalous utopia of the century, if not of all times; Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1962), an anatomy of political disfranchisement American-style; Bernard Malamud’s God’s Grace (1982), a neo-Darwinian beast fable about morality in the thermonuclear age; Walker Percy’s The Thanatos Syndrome (1986), a diagnostic novel about engineering violence out of America’s streets and minds; and Philip Roth’s The Plot Against America (2004), an alternative history of homegrown ‘soft’ fascism.

With the help of the five novels and the social models outlined therein, Peter Swirski interrogates key aspects of sociobiology and behavioural psychology, voting and referenda procedures, morality and altruism, multilevel selection and proverbial wisdom, violence and chip-implant technology, and the adaptive role of emotions in our private and public lives.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Technology and Organization (RLE: Organizations) by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book Gendering Spanish Democracy by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book Tradition, Performance, and Religion in Native America by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book Boundless Innocence in Thomas Traherne's Poetic Theology by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book Transnational Families, Migration and the Circulation of Care by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book Helping Children to be Skilful Communicators by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book Economics of Structural and Technological Change by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book The Future of Natural History Museums by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book Advanced Research Methods for Applied Psychology by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book Explanation in Social Science by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book Racial Synthesis in Hindu Culture by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book Differentiating by Student Interest by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book Hermeneutic Moral Realism in Psychology by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book Challenges of Constructing Legitimacy in Peacebuilding by Peter Swirski
Cover of the book Leisure and Tourism Landscapes by Peter Swirski
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy