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OverviewThe Children of Light and the Children of Darkness, first published in 1944, is considered one of the most profound and relevant works by the influential theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, and certainly the fullest statement of his political philosophy. Written and first read during the prolonged, tragic world war between totalitarian and democratic forces, Niebuhr’s book took up the timely question of how democracy as a political system could best be defended. Most proponents of democracy, Niebuhr claimed, were “children of light,” who had optimistic but naïve ideas about how society could be rid of evil and governed by enlightened reason. They needed, he believed, to absorb some of the wisdom and strength of the “children of darkness,” whose ruthless cynicism and corrupt, anti-democratic politics should otherwise be repudiated. He argued for a prudent, liberal understanding of human society that took the measure of every group’s self-interest and was chastened by a realistic understanding of the limits of power. It is in the foreword to this book that he wrote, “Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible; but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary.” This edition includes a new introduction by the theologian and Niebuhr scholar Gary Dorrien in which he elucidates the work’s significance and places it firmly into the arc of Niebuhr’s career. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Reinhold Niebuhr , Gary DorrienPublisher: The University of Chicago Press Imprint: University of Chicago Press Dimensions: Width: 13.40cm , Height: 1.50cm , Length: 20.20cm Weight: 0.268kg ISBN: 9780226584003ISBN 10: 0226584003 Pages: 224 Publication Date: 01 September 2011 Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate , Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly Format: Paperback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: In stock  We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately. Table of ContentsReviewsI love him. He's one of my favorite philosophers. (President Barack Obama) Dr. Niebuhr is in our time one of the ablest spokesmen among theologians. And he brings to his chosen task rare gifts and wide-ranging interests. (New Republic) [A] clear and impressive statement of [Niebuhr's] views on fundamental political and social problems. (Spectator) [A] brilliant and creative vindication of democracy... a theology of Western culture which remains intellectually unsurpassed. (Larry Rasmussen in Reinhold Niebuhr: Theologian of Public Life) Author InformationReinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) taught at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. The recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964, he wrote many books, including The Irony of American History, also recently republished by the University of Chicago Press. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |
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