The Vision of the Anointed

The Vision of the Anointed

Hardcover edition
Author Sowell, Thomas
Country United States
Language English
Subject Social Policy
Genre Economics, Philosophy
Publisher Basic Books
Publication date
June 28, 1996
Media type Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook, E-book at
Pages 320 pp.
ISBN 978-0-465-08995-6
Preceded by Race And Culture: A World View
Followed by Knowledge and Decisions

The Vision of the Anointed is a book by economist and political columnist Thomas Sowell challenging people Sowell calls "Teflon prophets," who predict that there will be future social, economic, or environmental problems in the absence of government intervention (Ralph Nader is one of his foremost examples). The book was initially published on June 28, 1996 by Basic Books.

Overview

Sowell claims that these thinkers, writers, and activists continue to be revered even in the face of evidence disproving their positions. He claims that they are promoters of a worldview concocted out of fantasy impervious to any real-world considerations.[1]

Title

The title of book refers to the view of human nature that Sowell called "the unconstrained vision" in his earlier book a Conflict of Visions, and that Steven Pinker called "the utopian vision" in his book the Blank Slate.[2]

References

  1. George, Robert P. (1995-10-23). "The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy". National Review. Retrieved 2008-09-20.
  2. "The Blog: Tragic vs. Utopian View of Human Nature". Ben Casnocha. 2009-10-13. Retrieved 2010-03-17.