The Thriving Society: On the Social Conditions of Human Flourishing
edited by james r. stoner jr. and harold james
the witherspoon institute, 230 pages, $25
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hat conditions are required for a modern society to thrive? This collection of essays in response to that question begins with Robert George on the foundations of a decent and dynamic society. George argues that healthy societies rest on three pillars: respect for the human person, the family, and a fair and effective system of law and government. A decent society need not be dynamic, but social dynamism requires two more pillars: institutions of research and education, and economic institutions that generate, distribute, and preserve wealth. Social dynamism need not conflict with or destroy social decency. But social dynamism requires the pillars of social decency; economic growth will not long survive if families are weakened in the process.
