Age of Responsibility: Luck, Choice, and the Welfare State

Recent reforms of the welfare state have equated responsibility with self-sufficiency, which is pernicious and can be overcome by reconsidering the role of luck and choice in debates about welfare and rethinking mutual responsibilities as citizens.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 288 pages
\n Publication date: 17 June 2019
\n Publisher: Harvard University Press
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The concept of responsibility, which once referred to the moral obligation to assist and support others, has been redefined as an obligation to be self-sufficient. This has influenced recent welfare state reforms, linking key benefits to good behavior. Yascha Mounk, drawing on political theory and moral philosophy, explores the pernicious consequences of this re-imagining of personal responsibility and offers insights on how it can be overcome.

This important book challenges us to reevaluate the role of luck and choice in discussions about welfare and to reconsider our collective responsibilities as citizens. Michael J. Sandel, author of "Justice," praises the book for prompting a reconsideration of these issues. He questions whether we prioritize holding individuals accountable to the extent that we are willing to compromise our own well-being for a just punishment.

The New York Times Book Review also commends the book, stating that it is "a smart and engaging book." The review highlights the book's ability to provoke thought and challenge readers to reassess their perspectives on social welfare. The review also notes that Mounk makes a compelling case that political rhetoric over the past half century has shifted towards a punitive vision of social welfare.

The Los Angeles Review of Books also praises the book, describing it as "an important new book." The review emphasizes Mounk's argument that political rhetoric has become increasingly punitive, leading to policies that prioritize punishment over support and rehabilitation. The review concludes that Mounk's book is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate about social welfare and should be widely read.

Jedediah Purdy, author of "After Nature: A Politics for the Anthropocene," also commends the book, calling it "a terrific book." Purdy praises the insight at the heart of the book, which suggests that the conception of responsibility currently employed in much public rhetoric and policy is both punitive and ill-conceived. Purdy argues that this insight is crucial and should be widely heeded by policymakers and citizens alike.

In conclusion, "The Responsibility Myth" is a thought-provoking book that challenges our understanding of personal responsibility and its implications for social welfare. Yascha Mounk's insights on the pernicious consequences of this re-imagining of responsibility and his proposals for overcoming them are valuable contributions to the ongoing debate about social welfare. The book should be read by policymakers, citizens, and anyone interested in understanding the complex relationship between individual responsibility, social welfare, and public policy.

\n Weight: 340g\n
Dimension: 199 x 156 x 19 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780674237674\n \n