Personal character and national destiny / Harold B. Jones, Jr.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jones, Harold B., 1946-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Social values.

National characteristics.

Character.

Achievement motivation.

Physical Description:

x, 259 pages ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Other Title:

Personal character & national destiny

Place of Publication:

St. Paul, Minn. : Paragon House, 2002.

Contents:

Chapter 1 The Achieving Society 1

Introduction: McClelland's Prediction of the Japanese Miracle 1

The Need for Achievement 3

The Achievement-Oriented Personality 6

Personality and Progress 9

The Source of Achievement Motivation 11

The Values of an Achieving Society 13

The Situation in Japan 16

Chapter 2 The Cycles of History 19

Introduction: The Nature of Historical Cycles 19

Content Analysis and Historical Categories 20

Looking for the Achievement Motive in History 23

The Achievement Motive: Historical Examples 25

Achievement Motivation in Modern Societies 25

The Need for Achievement in Ancient Greece 27

Ancient Greece: Examples from Literature 28

The Death of Achievement Motivation 30

England 31

Chapter 3 The Appearance of Character 37

Introduction: Religious Faith and Character 37

The Rule of St. Benedict 39

The Protestant Reformation 43

The Appearance of Individualism 44

The Protestant Ethic 46

Work and the Quest for Perfection 47

The Fleeting Moment 49

Fidelity, Honesty, and the Family 50

Attitudes Toward Money 51

Personal Character and Economic Progress 52

Personal Character and Political Freedom 53

Chapter 4 The Literature of Hope 57

Introduction: Personal Values and the Rise of America 57

From Rags to Riches in Colonial America 60

McGuffey's Reader 65

The Philosophy of Achievement 69

The Last Hurrah 73

Chapter 5 The Age of Achievement 77

Introduction: Achievement Motivation and Nineteenth-Century Growth

Andrew Carnegie 78

Character and the Creation of an Industry 81

The Mind of the Millionaire 83

Carnegie the Philanthropist 85

John D. Rockefeller 87

A Study in Character 90

Innovator and Philanthropist 92

Personal Character and National Prosperity 93

Chapter 6 Director's Law 97

Introduction: The Attack on Character and Achievement 97

The New Aspirations 98

The New Villains 102

The New Model 105

The New Regulation 108

Guilt by Association 109

Labor Relations 111

The New Class 113

Chapter 7 The Literature of Despair 119

Introduction: The Disappearance of Faith in the Achiever 119

Elbert Hubbard 120

Upton Sinclair 122

George Babbit 127

The New Priesthood 131

Scientific Management 132

Mary Parker Follett 134

Elton Mayo 135

John Dewey 136

Chapter 8 The Great Descent 141

Introduction: Politicians and Prosperity 141

The Great Depression 142

The Great Despair 147

The New Orientation 149

The Great Liar 151

The Great Tyranny 153

The Great War 157

The Great Tragedy 160

Chapter 9 The Literature of Crisis 163

Introduction: The US has become a Crisis-Oriented Society 163

Growing Up Absurd 164

The Greening of America 168

The Endless Crisis 172

The New Crises 173

The Politics of Crisis 176

The Voice of Crisis 179

Conclusion: Crisis and Character 182

Chapter 10 The Administrative Society 185

Introduction: As Helpless Children 185

The New Wealth 187

The Welfare State 188

The Redefinition of Property 190

The New Morality 192

The Bureaucratic Stranglehold 195

The Dangerous Apathy 198

The Disappearance of Character 199

Destroying the Future 202

Conclusion: Character and the Future 207

Introduction: On Examining One's Assumptions 207

My Assumptions 209

The Individual and Society 209

The Meaning of Character 211

The Roles of Literature and Government 213

The Age of Descent 214

Attitudes Toward Achievement 215

The Ruling Classes 216

Beginning with the Children 219

Greek Values at the Beginning of the End 222

America: Renewal or Decline 222

On the Verge of Decline 223

The Hope for Renewal 224.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 227-244) and index.

ISBN:

1557788049

OCLC:

48032429