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The Ordinary Virtues
Moral Order in a Divided World
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Check link for latest rating. ( 143 ratings, 28 reviews)
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Description
Winner of the Zócalo Book Prize
A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
"Combines powerful moral arguments with superb storytelling."
—New Statesman
What moral values do we hold in common? As globalization draws us together economically, are the things we value converging or diverging? These twin questions led Michael Ignatieff to embark on a three-year, eight-nation journey in search of an answer. What we share, he found, are what he calls "ordinary virtues": tolerance, forgiveness, trust, and resilience. When conflicts break out, these virtues are easily exploited by the politics of fear and exclusion, reserved for one's own group but denied to others. Yet these ordinary virtues are the key to healing and reconciliation on both a local and global scale.
"Makes for illuminating reading."
—Simon Winchester, New York Review of Books
"Engaging, articulate and richly descriptive. Ignatieff's deft histories, vivid sketches and fascinating interviews are the soul of this important book."
—Times Literary Supplement
"Deserves praise for wrestling with the devolution of our moral worlds over recent decades."
—Los Angeles Review of Books
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Michael Ignatieff's The Ordinary Virtues receives acclaim for its engaging exploration of how virtues like tolerance, forgiveness, resilience, and trust underpin global communities, challenging the notion that human rights alone sustain them. His storytelling, combining moral arguments with vivid accounts and interviews from diverse locales, provides a nuanced view of the ongoing evolution of ethics in an interconnected world. Critics praise Ignatieff's ability to navigate complex moral dilemmas with clarity and insight, highlighting his book's significance in the fields of human rights and global ethics.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780674237490
Publisher: Harvard University Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 01 April 2019
Country: United States
Imprint: Harvard University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 19.0mm
Width: 140.0mm
Height: 210.0mm
Weight: 290g
Pages: 272
About the Author
Michael Ignatieff is Rector and President of Central European University in Budapest and former Professor at the Harvard Kennedy School.
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