Democracy and Social Ethics · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Democracy and Social Ethics by Jane Addams.
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Chapter 1
Dedication
The chapter is a brief dedication to M. R. S.
Chapter 2
Prefatory Note
The author explains that this book is based on a series of twelve lectures on 'Democracy and Social Ethics' delivered at various colleges and university extension centers. The informal style of the lectures has been retained, and the first-person plural pronouns now include readers. Acknowledgments are given to several periodicals for permission to reprint.
Chapter 3
Democracy and Social Ethics
This chapter explores the tensions between democratic ideals and social ethics, examining how individual morality clashes with social obligations in a democratic society. It discusses the ethical dilemmas faced by charity visitors, the role of women in social reform, and the conflicts between family duties and broader social claims.
Chapter 4
Introduction
Addison introduces the concept of social ethics as a necessary evolution beyond personal and family morality. She argues that contemporary life demands a social test of righteousness, rooted in democratic experience and sympathy, and that true moral progress requires engagement with the broader community. The chapter sets the stage for examining specific groups and their struggles to adopt this new social morality.
Chapter 5
II: Charitable Effort
This chapter examines the tension between evolving democratic ideals and traditional charitable practices. It critiques the charity visitor's role in imposing industrial virtues on the poor, highlighting the moral discomfort and class inequality inherent in the charitable relationship. The chapter contrasts the impersonal, organized charity with the natural, mutual aid among the poor, and explores the difficulty of reconciling compassion with justice in social reform.
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