The Disruption of Traditional Forms of Nurture: Essay and Discussion

This volume touches upon the basics of soceity: the forms of nuture. By writing on the disruption of traditional forms of nuture, American historian William McNeill ventured into, for him, uncharted waters. His essay was submitted to a group of experts from various diciplines and countries at a meeting held in Luxembourg in July 1996. The discussions at the meeting were most of the time lively but also controversial; many comments dealt with the tenets of William McNeill's essay, but a number of new ideas?going beyond the scope of the text?were forwarded. The experts discussed the presuppositions and consequences of McNeill's statement. Topics in the discussion included the role of the family, violence and tolerance, the future of the village, the "civilized compromise," and life-long learning. The discussions are published together with the essay in this short book.