現代人普遍不婚不生、努力賺錢、遠離公共生活我們努力追求美好生活,到底哪裡有錯?托克維爾《民主在美國》之後又一經典初版自1985年暢銷至今、融合社會.政治.歷史跨學科研究一本理解美國人為何奉個人主義為人生圭臬,但卻又逐步侵蝕毀壞公民社會的警世之書個人主義為何會毀壞公民社會?1830年代,法國社會哲學家托克維爾在《民主在美國》中,對美國人的「個人主義」提出非常敏銳的分析,他警告「只顧個人利益、自掃門前雪」的個人主義,最終會破壞美國推崇的公民社會,走向他不樂見的「民主專制」(democratic despotism),一種有秩序、溫和且和平的「奴隸制」。本書延續《民主在美國》的觀察,考察美國個人主義發展的歷史淵源,說明「民德」(Habits of the Heart)對於塑造美國人文化特質的重要作用,並希望透過重塑民德,遏制個人主義在美國的過度發展,根治人際孤立疏離,缺乏社會責任的病灶,拯救岌岌可危的公民社會。四個對立又相容的文化傳統本書認為,美國擁有四個對立又相容的文化傳統:(1)聖經傳統:源自基督宗教,崇敬上帝,在上帝面前人人平等。(2)共和傳統:源自古希臘羅馬,現代西方民主社會的基石,重視公民道德、公共參與。(3)功利個人主義:追求自己和自己親近的人的最大利益,例如賺取財富、享受人生、為子女未來打算。(4)表現個人主義:主張每個人要活出自我、按照內心的直覺而非外在規範去生活。這四個兩兩一組代表「公」與「私」的文化傳統,始終盤旋在美國人的心中。對美國人來說,到底應該過上成就自我、獨立自主的生活,還是遵循傳統、參與公眾的生活,都凸顯他們「公」與「私」矛盾衝突的心理。以四位主人翁生命故事展開的文本本書從四個真實案例開始,分析上述的矛盾衝突。他們分別是企業主管布萊恩、小鎮主委喬、心理治療師瑪格麗特、社會運動家韋恩。他們都是你我日常所見的普通人物,每段訪談、每篇側寫都道出他們的工作、婚姻、愛情、信仰、價值觀、親子關係、社區參與、政治活動,其中有他們的夢想、挫折、哀傷、煩惱,呈現出現代人充滿矛盾衝突,失去秩序的心靈世界。以成功的企業主管布萊恩為例,四十歲前的他鎮日忙於工作,總是在辦公室待到三更半夜,每週平均工作65個小時,心裡想的只有養活家裡的妻小,當個「負責任」的大人。但這樣的他卻在結婚十五年後收到一紙離婚協議,妻子認為布萊恩整天只忙於工作,跟妻子、小孩幾乎沒有交集,她受不了
Now in its third edition, Teaching and Researching Listening renews its commitment to provide language educators, practitioners, and researchers in the fields of ESL, TESOL, and Applied Linguistics wi
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How can Confucianism lead to business and personal success? Follow the extraordinary career of Steve Tsai, whose unshakable commitment to truth, family and nation helped him overcome poverty and deprivation, led him through two terrible wars, and positioned him to play a decisive role in Taiwan’s development as a modern nation-state. In these pages, he looks back on a life full of important lessons for those who seek success and fulfillment, offering hard-earned wisdom and experience, and a heart-felt optimism for life and humanity. Steve Tsai shares the secrets of his success: family, faith, learning and friends. These constant companions transformed him from a shoeless itinerant student into a driving force of Taiwan’s modernization and ultimately leading figure of the American hotel industry. 1. Modern Confucian Entrepreneur also offers invaluable wisdom for how Confucian values, properly understood and applied, can bring success in organizational management, leadership, investment