The Ecological Vision: Reflections on the American Condition

by Peter Drucker (Editor)

Overview

Periods of great social change reveal a tension between the need for continuity and the need for innovation. The twentieth century has witnessed both radical alteration and tenacious durability in social organization, politics, economics, and art. To comprehend these changes as history and as guideposts to the future, Peter F. Drucker has, over a lifetime, pursued a discipline that he terms social ecology. The writings brought together in The Ecological Vision define the discipline as a sustained inquiry into the man-made environment and an active effort at maintaining equilibrium between change and conservation.

The chapters in this volume range over a wide array of disciplines and subject matter. They are linked by a common concern with the interaction of the individual and society, and a common perspective that views economics, technology, politics, and art as dimensions of social experience and expressions of social value. Included here are profiles of such figures as Henry Ford, John C. Calhoun, Soren Kierkegaard, and Thomas Watson; analyses of the economics of Keynes and Schumpeter;and explorations of the social functions of business, management, information, and technology. Drucker's chapters on Japan examine the dynamics of cultural and economic change and afford striking comparisons with similar processes in the West.

In the concluding chapter, "Reflections of a Social Ecologist," Drucker traces the development of his discipline through such intellectual antecedents as Alexis de Tocqueville, Walter Bagehot, and Wilhelm von Humboldt. He illustrates the ecological vision, an active, practical, and moral approach to social questions. Peter Drucker summarizes a lifetime of work and exemplifies the communicative clarity that are requisites of all intellectual enterprises. His book will be of interest to economists, business people, foreign affairs specialists, and intellectual historians.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781560000617
Publisher:	Transaction Publishers
Publication date:	01/30/1992
Pages:	474
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

One: American Experiences; Introduction to Part One; 1: The American Genius Is Political; 2: Calhoun's Pluralism; 3: Henry Ford: The Last Populist; 4: IBM's Watson: Vision for Tomorrow; 5: The Myth of American Uniformity; Two: Economics as a Social Dimension; Introduction to Part Two; 6: The Economic Basis of American Politics; 7: The Poverty of Economic Theory; 8: The Delusion of Profits; 9: Schumpeter and Keynes; 10: Keynes: Economics as a Magical System; Three: The Social Function of Management; Introduction to Part Three; 11 Management's Role; 12: Management: The Problems of Success; 13: Social Innovation: Management's New Dimension; Four: Business as a Social Institution; Introduction to Part Four; 14: Can There Be Business Ethics?; 15: The New Productivity Challenge; 16: The Emerging Theory of Manufacturing; 17: The Hostile Takeover and its Discontents; Five: Work, Tools, and Society; Introduction to Part Five; 18: Work and Tools; 19: Technology, Science, and Culture; 20: India and Appropriate Technology; 21: The First Technological Revolution and Its Lessons; Six: The Information-Based Society; Introduction to Part Six; 22: Information, Communications, and Understanding; 23: Information and the Riture of the City; 24: The Information-Based Organization; Seven: Japan as Society and Civilization; Introduction to Part Seven; 25: A View of Japan through Japanese Art; 26: Japan: The Problems of Success; 27: Behind Japan's Success; 28: Misinterpreting Japan and the Japanese; 29: How Westernized Are the Japanese?; Eight: Why Society Is Not Enough; Introduction to Part Eight; 30: The Unfashionable Kierkegaard

Editorial Reviews

-The thirty pieces (all previously published) range over many topics (with truly admirable coherence), are well-written (beautifully concise), very provocative (usually iconoclastic) and deeply (albeit randomly) seasoned with doses of sharp realism.-

--Colin A.M. Duncan, Labour/Le Travail

-This book is a reflection of Drucker's synopic view of American society and social change--the tension between the need for continuity and the need for innovation. The author considers the study of this phenomenon -social ecology,- and hence, the book's title. Drucker ranges across both subject matter and academic disciplines. . . . Drucker views economics, technology, politics, and art as dimensions of social experience and expressions of social value. Whether the reader fully accepts Drucker's analysis or not, this inclusive perspective is valuable and unique. This collection of his essays and his reflection on them does illuminate the streams of thought that have contributed to Drucker's influential work over nearly sixty years. All persons interested in public and business affairs, American society, leadership, and organizations will find this book both informative and stimulating.-

--Richard L. Chapman, Perspectives

-[T]he book is broad and clear enough to appeal to a wide audience of readers. There are some chapters which would serve admirably as readings for introductory courses in economics, politics, philosophy or business management.-

--Enviromental Politics

"The thirty pieces (all previously published) range over many topics (with truly admirable coherence), are well-written (beautifully concise), very provocative (usually iconoclastic) and deeply (albeit randomly) seasoned with doses of sharp realism."

--Colin A.M. Duncan, Labour/Le Travail

"This book is a reflection of Drucker's synopic view of American society and social change--the tension between the need for continuity and the need for innovation. The author considers the study of this phenomenon "social ecology," and hence, the book's title. Drucker ranges across both subject matter and academic disciplines. . . . Drucker views economics, technology, politics, and art as dimensions of social experience and expressions of social value. Whether the reader fully accepts Drucker's analysis or not, this inclusive perspective is valuable and unique. This collection of his essays and his reflection on them does illuminate the streams of thought that have contributed to Drucker's influential work over nearly sixty years. All persons interested in public and business affairs, American society, leadership, and organizations will find this book both informative and stimulating."

--Richard L. Chapman, Perspectives

"[T]he book is broad and clear enough to appeal to a wide audience of readers. There are some chapters which would serve admirably as readings for introductory courses in economics, politics, philosophy or business management."

--Enviromental Politics

"The thirty pieces (all previously published) range over many topics (with truly admirable coherence), are well-written (beautifully concise), very provocative (usually iconoclastic) and deeply (albeit randomly) seasoned with doses of sharp realism."

--Colin A.M. Duncan, Labour/Le Travail

"This book is a reflection of Drucker's synopic view of American society and social change--the tension between the need for continuity and the need for innovation. The author considers the study of this phenomenon "social ecology," and hence, the book's title. Drucker ranges across both subject matter and academic disciplines. . . . Drucker views economics, technology, politics, and art as dimensions of social experience and expressions of social value. Whether the reader fully accepts Drucker's analysis or not, this inclusive perspective is valuable and unique. This collection of his essays and his reflection on them does illuminate the streams of thought that have contributed to Drucker's influential work over nearly sixty years. All persons interested in public and business affairs, American society, leadership, and organizations will find this book both informative and stimulating."

--Richard L. Chapman, Perspectives

"[T]he book is broad and clear enough to appeal to a wide audience of readers. There are some chapters which would serve admirably as readings for introductory courses in economics, politics, philosophy or business management."

--Enviromental Politics

"The thirty pieces (all previously published) range over many topics (with truly admirable coherence), are well-written (beautifully concise), very provocative (usually iconoclastic) and deeply (albeit randomly) seasoned with doses of sharp realism."

--Colin A.M. Duncan, Labour/Le Travail

"This book is a reflection of Drucker's synopic view of American society and social change--the tension between the need for continuity and the need for innovation. The author considers the study of this phenomenon "social ecology," and hence, the book's title. Drucker ranges across both subject matter and academic disciplines. . . . Drucker views economics, technology, politics, and art as dimensions of social experience and expressions of social value. Whether the reader fully accepts Drucker's analysis or not, this inclusive perspective is valuable and unique. This collection of his essays and his reflection on them does illuminate the streams of thought that have contributed to Drucker's influential work over nearly sixty years. All persons interested in public and business affairs, American society, leadership, and organizations will find this book both informative and stimulating."

--Richard L. Chapman, Perspectives ."..the book is broad and clear enough to appeal to a wide audience of readers. There are some chapters which would serve admirably as readings for introductory courses in economics, politics, philosophy or business management..." "--"Enviromental Politics""

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