Rational Choice and Criminal Behavior: Recent Research and Future Challenges (Current Issues in Criminal Justice (Routledge (Firm)).)

Book Description

Rational Choice and Criminal Behavior is a collection of essays by experts in the field of criminal justice examines various aspects of the rational choice framework, which deals with the degree to which criminal behavior represents a rational choice. The editors also include essays that cover specific policy approaches that stem from this framework, an argument that is crucial in the debate over punishment as a deterrent and the role of society in fostering criminal behavior.

The Economic Illusion: False Choices Between Prosperity and Social Justice

Average customer rating:

Completely understandable discussion of economic theories.

The Economic Illusion: False Choices Between Prosperity and Social Justice
Robert Kuttner
Manufacturer: University of Pennsylvania Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Theory | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0812212401

Book Description

""An interesting and challenging critique of the United States economy and its institutions.""--New York Times ""A stinging and brilliant attack on the conventional wisdom of the economics profession.""--Washington Post In The Economic Illu

Customer Reviews:

Completely understandable discussion of economic theories........1998-09-11

Kuttner presented a well-developed argment for embracing Keynesian full employment policies which, according to Kuttner, would not require a trade-off between equality and efficiency.

Kuttner develops his argument with the most thorough and understandable discussion of the difference in ideologies betwen supply and demand economic theories I've ever read.

Utilizing the foundational principles of supply and demand theories Kuttner goes on to analyze the historic development, practices and effects of differing economic policies in the U.S. Kuttner's analysis describes the descent of Keynesian policies and the ascent of supply-side policies, pinpointing 1978 as the year business interests "...mounted an extensive campaign to convine public opinion that low taxes on the wealthy are the key to broad prosperity." (53) As a result of the effectiveness of this campaign Kuttner contended Ronald Reagan's election and a return to supply-side economic policies were essentially foregone conclusions.

Providing an analysis of supply-side fallacies of capital, savings, debt, housing, taxes and welfare which promote efficiency over equality, Kuttner further contended conservative reliance upon low-wage competition strategies resulted in an aggregate loss of purchasing power in the U.S., further exacerbating the chasm between the rich and poor.

Book Description

School choice, the leading educational reform proposal in the English-speaking world today, evokes extreme responses-its defenders present it as the saviour; its opponents as the death knell of a fair educational system. Disagreement and vagueness about what constitutes social justice in education muddies the debate. The author provides a new theory of justice for education, arguing that justice requires that all children have a real opportunity to become autonomous persons, and that the state use a criterion of educational equality for deploying educational resources. Through systematic presentation of empirical evidence, the author argues that existing schemes do not fare well against the criterion of social justice, yet this need not impugn school choice. Brighouse offers a school choice proposal that could implement social justice and explains why other essential educational reforms can be compatible with choice.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding!!.......2004-07-01

Brighouse's book is a work of political philosophy aimed at considerations for education policy. He conceives of education for social justice as three-fold: it must (1.) be an autonomy-facilitating education that equips and empowers children with "a realistic opportunity to become autonomous adults" (65), (2.) provide for "equality of opportunity among all citizens for the packages of burdens and benefits distributed by the labor market" (122), and (3.) mean that the "resources devoted to a child's education should not depend on the ability of their parents to pay for, or choose among educational experiences" (122-3).

Brighouse presents four non-autonomous beliefs and preferences as counter-illustrative of what he means by autonomy. Preferences and beliefs can be considered as non-autonomous: (1.) "when coercive practices have illegitimately restricted the options available", (2.) "where someone deliberately manipulates an agent by providing false information about the options available or costs and benefits attached to the options", (3.) when "people adapt their preferences or beliefs subconsciously to apparently unchangeable circumstances", and (4.) when "people consciously and unconsciously accommodate their preferences to unjust background conditions" (66)

The chapters of the book alternately present considerations for and against autonomy-facilitating education and educational equality as justifications for and guiding principles for state-sanctioned school choice. The tone is theoretical and philosophical, which I found refreshing and exhilarating relative to many works that are more historical and experiential in perspective.

In my work I have often wondered how to help my students break the cycles of failure and bleak prospects they have experienced and seem so likely to repeat. I have often tried to impress upon them the value and personal power inherent in knowledge gained through education. Brighouse's conception of autonomy-facilitating education speaks to the heart of these concerns from a perspective that leaves open many possibilities within a theoretical framework of education for social justice.

Food for autonomous thought.......2001-05-31

Brighouse's book is really refreshing. If you are familiar with Rawls' Theory of Justice and ever wondered what would have happened if he had written a treatise on education policy then this is the book for you. If you buy it to read solely about school choice then you may be disappointed as this barely features until the final 50 pages of the book. However, his thoughts on the importance of autonomy of thought are facinating. In particular his prescription for school curricula is truly food for thought and calls into question the utility of our own for independent and critical judgement.

Choosing Justice: An Experimental Approach to Ethical Theory (California Series on Social Choice and Political Economy)

Average customer rating:

Choosing Justice: An Experimental Approach to Ethical Theory (California Series on Social Choice and Political Economy)
Norman Frohlich , and Joe A. Oppenheimer
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Microeconomics | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Ethics & Professional Responsibility | Law | Subjects | Books

Ethics & Morality | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Ethics & Professional Responsibility | Law | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Business & Investing | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 0520084373

Collected Papers of Kenneth J. Arrow, Volume 1, Social Choice and Justice (Collected Papers of Kenneth J. Arrow)

Average customer rating:

Collected Papers of Kenneth J. Arrow, Volume 1, Social Choice and Justice (Collected Papers of Kenneth J. Arrow)
Kenneth J. Arrow
Manufacturer: Belknap Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Theory | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Business & Investing | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0674137604

Book Description

Unlike the papers of some other great economists, those of Kenneth Arrow are being read and studied today with even greater care and attention than when they first appeared in the journals. The publication of his collected papers will therefore be welcomed by economists and other social scientists and in particular by graduate students, who can draw from them the deep knowledge and the discernment in selection of scientific problems that only a master can offer. The author has added headnotes to certain well-known papers, describing how he came to write them.

In this first volume, Arrow takes up the basic question of whether collective choices can be made in such a way as to reflect individual preferences. The seminal 1950 paper that opens the volume shows that given certain reasonable conditions that social choices must satisfy to reflect individual preferences, it is impossible to make a choice among all sets of alternatives without violating some of the conditions. The subsequent papers extend, deepen, and clarify these results and examine the concept of justice, both in the abstract and in economic models. The volume also contains searching critiques of the theories of justice of John Rawls and Robert Nozick.

Average customer rating:

If you're REALLY interested in this stuff...

Pro-choice is Pro-Life

Her Compassion Shines Through

Powerful case for choice

Reproductive rights warrior

With Liberty and Justice for All: A Life Spent Protecting the Right to Choose
Kate Michelman
Manufacturer: Hudson Street Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Political | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
Social Policy | Government | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Sociology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Human Rights | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

How The Pro-choice Movement Saved America

Pregnancy and Power: A Short History of Reproductive Politics in America

Dying Right: The Death with Dignity Movement

Why Marriage?: The history shaping today's debate over gay equality

Women Who Make the World Worse : and How Their Radical Feminist Assault Is Ruining Our Schools, Families, Military, and Sports

ASIN: 1594630062

Book Description

From "one of the most powerful women in Washington" (Washingtonian) and a "legend and leader," (Vanity Fair) comes a book that concerns the future of our country, our society, and our world.

Catalyzed by the trauma of a pre-Roe v. Wade abortion, which required the consent of the husband who deserted her and a hospital panel made up entirely of men, Kate Michelman devoted her life to protecting the rights of women and children. Serving from 1985 until 2004 as the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, she succeeded in moving the question "Who Decides?" to the mainstream, transforming the political debate, and defining a woman's freedom to choose as a fundamental American liberty. Today, the appointment of a single anti-choice judge to the Supreme Court threatens to eviscerate Roe's protections, forcing women to live at the whim of politicians and further limiting their reproductive rights.

With Liberty and Justice for All is an urgent wake-up call to American women to defend their freedom in its hour of greatest danger written by one of the most respected and inspiring leaders of our times. Important and intensely personal, it is not just a book about abortion, but a book about freedom, about bringing children into the world under the best possible circumstances, and about a woman's right to assume her equal place in American society.

Customer Reviews:

If you're REALLY interested in this stuff..........2006-11-09

The current state of the Abortion debate remains a sad example of how an issue with far reaching human ramifications can be hijacked by a bunch of loons hell bent on shouting at eachother rather than engaging in discourse. Michelman has done more than her share to make the debate vitriolic; her insistence that naral supported politicos utilize the term "anti-choice", for example, makes clear her utter contempt for those who possess the opposing viewpoint. If you are interested in exploring different perspectives on this issue, check out The Hand of God: A Journey from Death to Life by Bernard Nathanson. A former abortionist, Nathanson was an original cofounder of Naral. It's a more solemn read, a guilt-ridden text recounting a nihilistically hedonistic life that ultimately replaced the madness of abortion as casual birth control, with the madness of blind religious zealotry. It makes a good companion piece to Michelman's self congratulatory, back slappy hodge-podge of cherry picked horror stories and mind-numbing proclaimations. BTW, I see that the pro-choicers are monitoring this listing and posting "unhelpful" follow up to honest reviews like mine. Pity. You'd think the fact that no devoutly pro-abortion rights candidate has ever garnered a majority in a presidential election might cue them in that their approach isn't working.

Pro-choice is Pro-Life.......2006-06-06

The novel is about Michelman, who was president of NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League) from 1985 to 2004, goes into the details of not only her personal experiences with abortion, but how she fought to keep it legal. Michelman starts with her own fight for an abortion and then dives into the battles over the nominations of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas. She discusses those who tried to overturn Roe v. Wade, as well as discusses how "pro-lifers" often turned to burning down abortion clinics, and had hit lists with names of doctors who preformed legal abortions. Michelman ends the novel with her description of the 2004 March for Women's Lives in DC. Personally, I felt that this book was inspirational and showed us that putting effort into a cause can make a huge difference. As someone who is also pro-choice I owe my ability to make decisions about my body in part to Michelman.

Her Compassion Shines Through.......2006-04-19

This book is not only an engaging account of how a brilliant mind orchestrates a fight for justice--it's a healing book to read. Kate Michelman's genius is in her reasonableness. The other side is not reasonable. Her strength lies in that she listens. The other side does not listen. She fights with quiet persistence. She hears the pro-lifers' words; she respects that there are some people out there who believe a clump of cells the size of the head of a pin is a human being whose rights trump those of the woman carrying it. In answer, she says quietly, persistently to these Advocates of Forced Birth--But there's a woman there. Not a host. Not an environment. Not soil. A human still in possession of rights, and no, I will not let you legislate them away. KM has startling patience with those who believe a woman's human rights have vanished because her birth control failed. This book makes it so clear who's listening-- and who isn't. Something else that came through strongly in this book is the truth that birth is a creative act that a woman carries out, an immense undertaking that can't succeed without her full cooperation, her wisdom, her skill, her love. She must be an active participant--not a passive receptacle, not the captive of another's will. It is KM's gentle persistence in the face of the barbarity of her opponents that is so powerful. The other side is anything but gentle. A rapist uses a woman's body for his pleasure. A pro-lifer uses a woman's body to act out narrow, irrational religious convictions. Both freely trample her will, leave her physically injured, psychically brutalized. Wise, too, is the title --With Liberty and Justice for All-- for nothing less is at stake. But outrage will not win the fight. KM's relentless reasonableness just might.

Powerful case for choice.......2006-03-15

I was very impressed by this book. Prior to reading it, I was (moderately) pro-life. Michelman convinced me I was wrong. She makes an eloquent argument for the pro-choice side. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an open mind on the abortion issue. I would quibble with a few of her arguments- e.g. parental notification, but I still think she makes a strong case.

Reproductive rights warrior.......2006-03-03

This book felt like a shot of reality through my understanding of what is going on in the political world that involves abortion rights.Like many in my generation I had no clue what kind of actual threat we are actually facing. The book reads like a clarifying account of the challenges for reproductive rights advocates have to face when fighting the anti-choice zealots. More women need to undertsand the current situation, and I'd recommend starting here with this book.

Eco-Socialism or Eco-Capitalism?: A Critical Analysis of Humanity's Fundamental Choices

Average customer rating:

An unique vision of a sustainable future

Eco-Socialism or Eco-Capitalism?: A Critical Analysis of Humanity's Fundamental Choices
Saral Sarkar
Manufacturer: Zed Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Theory | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Natural Resources | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Environmental Science | Earth Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Conservation | Environment | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This major synoptic work is remarkable for its author’s holistic treatment of the environment and social justice as inescapably related questions. He refuses to analyze the industrialized and developing countries as though they are so different that any understanding of the one can ignore the other. Saral Sarkar argues that the USSR bumped up against environmentally defined and resource-related limits to growth at a relatively early stage; but this does not mean that a free market, globalized capitalist economy will indefinitely escape a similar fate. Nor will a modified "eco-capitalism," as promoted by some sections of the Western environmental movement, provide a sufficiently grounded solution to the twin problems of environmental destruction and social injustice. The author looks, therefore, to a fundamentally different future--one in which our very notion of progress is differently conceived.

Customer Reviews:

An unique vision of a sustainable future.......2003-09-03

"Eco-Socialism or Eco-Capitalism" by Saral Sarkar offers an unique vision of a sustainable future. Mr. Sarkar was born and educated in India and wrote the book while residing in Germany, where he has been active in the Green Party and related political and environmental movements for many years. The author's education, work and multi-cultural life experiences combine to produce a nuanced, thoughtful and mature work that should intrigue readers interested in political theory and the environment.

Mr. Sarkar believes that the ecology movement must recognize that socialism, not capitalism, offers the best hope for society to realize the state of "biocentric equality" that will be needed to secure human rights and stabilize the environment. Central to the author's analysis is the "limits to growth" paradigm espoused by Green Economics thinkers such as Herman Daly, which posits that economic growth achieved through increasing natural resources consumption can not continue indefinitely. But the author goes well beyond Daly and his peers by insisting that a steady state economy (SSE) can not succeed in a free market capitalist system; rather, it can only be viable in the context of socialism.

Mr. Sarkar does not toss the word "socialism" around lightly. In fact, he devotes two chapters extensively studying why socialism failed in the USSR. In short, Mr. Sarkar posits that environmental constraints combined with widespread moral degeneration led to a crisis that could not be resolved by the USSR's privileged political/bureaucratic class. While many might argue that the USSR failed on a number of other levels as well, I found the author's analysis credible and well-supported by the evidence. Importantly, the analysis provides several take-aways that are later incorporated into the author's proposed eco-socialist theory, such as the importance of morals to the building and maintenance of a well-functioning society.

Mr. Sarkar examines the natural resource base that the present world economy depends upon in order to ascertain if new technologies might be able to offer us hope in overcoming scarcity. The author surveys various energy sources and technologies to provide detailed answers to this question. He also critiques the fashionable view that the contemporary "dematerialized" information society is less environmentally destructive than yesterday's industrial society. Mr. Sarkar's thoughts that follow from this discussion about what must be done in the face of the world's dwindling stock of natural resources might appear to some to be commonsense but are nonetheless well worth reading. Indeed, the author's candor is refreshing and welcome, especially when compared with the media's usual message of consumerism without end.

Mr. Sarkar presents his vision of how an eco-socialist society might succeed and discusses the notion of progress in the final two chapters of the book. The author believes that eco-socialism can rightly fuse the moral strengths of socialism with the pragamtism of the ecology movement to create a society that is free from greed, war, exploitation and rascism. This is achieved by embracing policies that are widely acknowledged in Leftist circles, including: full employment, women's rights, pay equity, limits on private enterprise, greater emphasis on the local production of goods and services, increased democratic participation, and so on. But the author also makes a very strong argument for controversial measures such as the rationing of consumer goods, strict controls on population growth, and more. Mr. Sarkar's justification is that the inconveniences created for some will be more than offset by the creation of a harmonious, peaceful and stable planet for all.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Social Justice, published by Crime and Social Justice Associates on March 22, 2001. The length of the article is 8844 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Charitable Choice As Neoliberal Social Welfare Strategy.
Author: Robert P. Weiss
Publication: Social Justice (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2001
Publisher: Crime and Social Justice Associates
Volume: 28 Issue: 1 Page: 35

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Choices -- Costs of Protection.(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article): An article from: Social Justice

Average customer rating:

Choices -- Costs of Protection.(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article): An article from: Social Justice

Manufacturer: Crime and Social Justice Associates
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Social Justice, published by Crime and Social Justice Associates on December 22, 2000. The length of the article is 459 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Choices -- Costs of Protection.(Statistical Data Included)(Brief Article)
Publication: Social Justice (Refereed)
Date: December 22, 2000
Publisher: Crime and Social Justice Associates
Volume: 27 Issue: 4 Page: 132

Article Type: Statistical Data Included, Brief Article

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books