Seymour Mandelbaums extended reflection on communities and the myths that sustain them is a plea for a communitarian sensibility. Communities are critically important in maintaining and adapting public moral orders. To do so; they must recruit; socialize; and discipline members; distinguish between members and strangers; collect resources; and cultivate a domain of competence.The communitarian sensibility is a disposition to assess the impact of innovative opportunities and compelling moral claims on the design; repair; and dissolution of communities and communal fields with a healthy skepticism about unlikely strategies.The book is divided into three parts. The first part sets out the role of communities in the creation of moral orders and discusses the implications of three prevalent myths about community. The second part discusses six terms--theory; story; time; city; tool; and plan--that figure prominently in both professional and lay constructions of public orders. The third part presents two cases in which ambiguous moral claims for redemption and justice challenge the pluralism of the open myth. One concerns exclusionary zoning in New Jersey; the other the 1985 attack on the MOVE compound in West Philadelphia. Mandelbaums blending of moral philosophy and concrete examples concludes with an account of citizenship in liberal republics.
2013-06-26 2013-06-26File Name: B00DY16OQ6
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Hoity-toityBy HHG. R. Hibbards introductory essay; while hostile to those speculations by "scholars spending their days in the British Museum"; is warmly appreciative of the play in the theater; and comments interestingly on the remarkable revival in LLLs theatrical fortunes since 1927. He suggests (questionably) that Modernism; and particularly the prestige of James Joyce; prompted a revaluation of punning wit: "Good puns were being recognized for what they are; a means of bringing two diverse kinds of experience into a sudden; unexpected; and illuminating juxtaposition with one another." Hibbard rightly emphasizes the plays sustained feminism and its readiness both to carry linguistic ingenuity to surrealistic extremes and to challenge such exuberance by the unexpected late reminders of the realities of death and labor outside the Arcadian park-land. After examining evidence for the existence of the possible sequel; "Loves Labours Won"; Hibbard concludes: "It seems beyond doubt; therefore; that it did exist; that it was published; and that it has since disappeared. Further than that it is not possible to go." Here Hibbards reluctance to speculate seems rather severe: the strikingly open-ended structure of LLL strongly portends a sequel in which the four lords meet after their year of probation and; after fresh contretemps; finally win the ladies hands in marriage.Hibbards footnotes in the text of the play are somewhat austere; in keeping with his general emphasis on the empirical and verifiable. He frequently deploys readings from OED and anthologies of proverbs; he concisely deciphers the arabesques of punning and the bawdy allusions; and he offers fewer evaluative; thematic; and argumentative comments than became customary in the Arden editions.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. but I would recommend without equivocationBy Andrew E. YaroshFirst rate edition with up to date scholarship; not all of which you may agree with (for example; the relegation of the first half of Birons "Have at you; then; affections men-at-arms;" speech to an appendix as a first draft). And I prefer my notes on the facing page; rather than down below.... allows for larger print.... but I would recommend without equivocation. Very cool cover too!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A ChallengeBy PopeyeI am a general reader. As others have pointed out this play can be difficult goingbecause of the topical humor and banter rooted in a specific society and moment inhistorical time. The average reader will want help. I found that part of theintroduction subtitled "The Play" to be very helpful. The play itself is thoroughlyannotated with expanded explanations where appropriate.