The Disintegrating Conscience and the Decline of Modernity by Steven D. Smith Ha

Description: The Disintegrating Conscience and the Decline of Modernity by Steven D. Smith In The disintegrating conscience and the decline of modernity, Smith takes as his starting point Jacques Barzuns provocative assertion that "the modern era" is coming to an end. Smith considers the question of decline by focusing on a single theme--conscience--that has been central to much of what has happened in Western politics, law, and religion of the past half-millennium. FORMAT Hardcover CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description This book considers how the modern concept of "conscience" turns the historic commitment on its head, in a way that underlies the decadence of modern society.Steven D. Smiths books are always anticipated with great interest by scholars, jurists, and citizens who see his work on foundational questions surrounding law and religion as shaping the debate in profound ways. Now, in The Disintegrating Conscience and the Decline of Modernity, Smith takes as his starting point Jacques Barzuns provocative assertion that "the modern era" is coming to an end. Smith considers the question of decline by focusing on a single theme-conscience-that has been central to much of what has happened in Western politics, law, and religion over the past half-millennium. Rather than attempting to follow that theme step-by-step through five hundred years, the book adopts an episodic and dramatic approach by focusing on three main figures and particularly portentous episodes: first, Thomas Mores execution for his conscientious refusal to take an oath mandated by Henry VIII; second, James Madisons contribution to Virginia law in removing the proposed requirement of religious toleration in favor of freedom of conscience; and, third, William Brennans pledge to separate his religious faith from his performance as a Supreme Court justice. These three episodes, Smith suggests, reflect in microcosm decisive turning points at which Western civilization changed from what it had been in premodern times to what it is today. A commitment to conscience, Smith argues, has been a central and in some ways defining feature of modern Western civilization, and yet in a crucial sense conscience in the time of Brennan and today has come to mean almost the opposite of what it meant to Thomas More. By scrutinizing these men and episodes, the book seeks to illuminate subtle but transformative changes in the commitment to conscience-changes that helped to bring Thomas Mores world to an end and that may also be contributing to the disintegration of (per Barzun) "the modern era." Author Biography Steven D. Smith, winner of the 2022 Religious Liberty Initiative Scholarship Award, is the Warren Distinguished Professor of Law, co-executive director of the Institute for Law and Religion, and the co-executive director of the Institute for Law and Philosophy at the University of San Diego. He is the author of numerous books including Fictions, Lies, and the Authority of Law (University of Notre Dame Press, 2021). Table of Contents Acknowledgements Prologue: How Did We Get Here? Act 1. Lost World, New World: Thomas Moore and his Troublesome Conscience Act 2. Disestablishment and New Establishment: James Madison and the Gospel of Conscience Act 3. Conscience and Compartmentalization: The Disintegration of William Brennan, and of America Epilogue: Looking Backward, Looking ForwardBibliography Review "Steven Smith is the greatest law and religion scholar of his generation. Every book he writes is illuminating, and this one is no exception. The Disintegrating Conscience and the Decline of Modernity is far and away the most insightful, balanced, and convincing account of the religion clauses to appear in the last five years at least." —Marc O. DeGirolami, author of The Tragedy of Religious Freedom"This book highlights the enormity, complexity, resilience, danger, disenchantment and importance that accompany matters of conscience, which in turn are inextricably connected to the relationship between law, religion and the state. It offers a novel and convincing defence of conscience as understood both in the context of the pre-modern West and by religious communities and traditions in the modern era." –International Journal for Religious Freedom Details ISBN0268206910 Author Steven D. Smith Publisher University of Notre Dame Press Series Catholic Ideas for a Secular World Year 2023 ISBN-13 9780268206918 Format Hardcover Imprint University of Notre Dame Press Place of Publication Notre Dame IN Country of Publication United States AU Release Date 2023-10-15 NZ Release Date 2023-10-15 UK Release Date 2023-10-15 ISBN-10 0268206910 Audience Professional & Vocational Pages 286 Publication Date 2023-10-15 US Release Date 2023-10-15 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:159630738;

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