Ploughshare and Pruning-Hook: Ten Lectures on Social Subjects by Laurence Housman
QR code
"Ploughshare and Pruning-Hook: Ten Lectures on Social Subjects" by Laurence Housman is a collection of thought-provoking essays written in the early 20th century. The book explores various social and political issues, advocating for a deeper understanding of humanity and the need for a significant change of heart in society's institutions and governance. Housman's lectures are imbued with an idealistic perspective on social reform, emphasizing the interconnectedness of individual morality and the collective
conscience. The opening of the work introduces Housman's central thesis: that both individuals and institutions must confront their moral failings to address societal issues effectively. He discusses the disparity between religious and political accountability, underlining that self-accusation and an honest acknowledgment of one's shortcomings are vital if real change is to occur. The author critiques the moral complacency of state institutions and the defensive nature of political systems, arguing that they often perpetuate societal vice rather than virtue. Housman calls for a transformation in how society values and pursues righteousness, suggesting that ignoring underlying issues only leads to systemic moral decay. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Download for free
For your e-reader or reading app — Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, Calibre etc.
Kindle → Use Send-to-Kindle
Kobo, Nook etc → Transfer via USB
Phone, tablet or computer → Open in a reading app
Other formats & older devices
There may be more files related to this item.
About this eBook
| Author | Housman, Laurence, 1865-1959 |
|---|---|
| LoC No. | 21005870 |
| Title | Ploughshare and Pruning-Hook: Ten Lectures on Social Subjects |
| Contents | Great possessions -- Crime and punishment -- Christianity a danger to the state -- The salt of the earth -- The rights of majorities -- Discreditable conduct -- What is womanly? -- Use and ornament -- Art and citizenship -- Conscious and unconscious immortality. |
| Credits | E-text prepared by Tim Lindell, Martin Pettit, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team (www.pgdp.net) from page images generously made available by Internet Archive (archive.org) |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 45.5 (College-level). Difficult to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | H: Social sciences |
| Subject | Social sciences |
| Subject | Social ethics |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 66101 |
| Release Date | Aug 21, 2021 |
| Last Update | Oct 18, 2024 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 352 downloads in the last 30 days. |
Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free!