In this sweeping reinterpretation of American political culture, James Block offers a new perspective on the formation of the modern American self and society. Block roots both self and society in the concept of agency, rather than liberty, and dispenses with the national myth of the "sacred cause of liberty"--with the Declaration of Independence as its "American scripture." Instead, he recovers the early modern conception of agency as the true synthesis emerging from America's Protestant and liberal cultural foundations. Block traces agency doctrine from its pre-Commonwealth English origins through its development into the American mainstream culture on the eve of the twentieth century. The concept of agency that prevailed in the colonies simultaneously released individuals from traditional constraints to participate actively and self-reliantly in social institutions, while confining them within a new set of commitments. Individual initiative was now firmly bounded by the modern values and ends of personal Protestant religiosity and collective liberal institutional authority. As Block shows, this complex relation of self to society lies at the root of the American character. A Nation of Agents is a new reading of what the "first new nation" did and did not achieve. It will enable us to move beyond long-standing national myths and grasp both the American achievement and its legacy for modernity. Table of Contents: Preface 1. The American Narrative in Crisis Part I. The English Origins of the American Self and Society 2. The Early Puritan Insurgents and the Origins of Agency 3. The Protestant Revolutionaries and the Emerging Society of Agents 4. Thomas Hobbes and the Founding of the Liberal Politics of Agency 5. John Locke and the Mythic Society of Free Agents Part II. The Ascendancy of Agency and the First New Nation 6. The Great Awakening and the Emergent Culture of Agency 7. The Revolutionary Triumph of Agency Part III. The Dilemma of Nationhood 8. The Liberal Idyll amidst Republican Realities 9. From the Idyll: Liberation and Reversal in a World without Bounds Part IV. The Creation of an Agency Civilization 10. National Revival as the Crucible of Agency Character 11. From Sectarian Discord to Civil Religion 12. The Protestant Agent in Liberal Economics 13. John Dewey and the Modern Synthesis Conclusion: The Recovery of Agency Notes Index Reviews of this book: A Nation of Agents is a work of extravagant erudition and originality. James E. Block has read voraciously in the sources, seen things that few have seen before, and put them together as none have done before. He sets forth a new view of American culture, threading his thesis through three centuries of American thought and the preceding century of English thinking besides. --Michael Zuckerman, Journal of American History Reviews of this book: What a wonder then is James Block's book, a daring master narrative and bracing theoretical exercise of the first order. It promises and delivers nothing less than a fundamental recasting of 'the American path to a modern self and society.' --Robert Westbrook, Christian Century Reviews of this book: James Block's big, ambitious A Nation of Agents leaves no doubt about its aspirations in the contest to solve the Gordian knot of the relationship between the one and the many in American social thought...The subtlety and acuity with which Block develops these themes through scores of thinkers and over 500 pages can scarcely be exaggerated. A Nation of Agents is a genuinely prodigious work of scholarship. --Daniel T. Rodgers, Modern Intellectual History This is an original and exciting work of scholarship, in which the idea of agency takes on the characteristics of a deep cultural imperative in American life. Block's agency thesis is at once a genealogy of modern American identity and a theoretical exploration of the horizon within which American political and moral self-reflection is conducted. --Eldon J. Eisenach, The University of Tulsa The most remarkable aspect of this book is the author's ability to weave a single thread -- the thread of "agency" -- through four centuries of Anglo-American intellectual history. Block's great achievement is to propound a new "common theme" to American history. A Nation of Agents is a beacon for scholars seeking a usable past. If ever intellectual history is to regain its prominence in the field of American history it will require works like this. --Harry S. Stout, Yale University
Why do free people submit to any rule? How is consent of the governed formed? Block argues that the source is found in the nursery and schoolroom, where the necessary synthesis of self-direction and integrative social conduct —so contradictory in logic yet so functional in practice—are established without provoking reservation or resistance.
In this sweeping reinterpretation of American political culture, James Block offers a new perspective on the formation of the modern American self and society. Block roots both self and society in the concept of agency, rather than liberty, and dispenses with the national myth of the "sacred cause of liberty"--with the Declaration of Independence as its "American scripture." Instead, he recovers the early modern conception of agency as the true synthesis emerging from America's Protestant and liberal cultural foundations. Block traces agency doctrine from its pre-Commonwealth English origins through its development into the American mainstream culture on the eve of the twentieth century. The concept of agency that prevailed in the colonies simultaneously released individuals from traditional constraints to participate actively and self-reliantly in social institutions, while confining them within a new set of commitments. Individual initiative was now firmly bounded by the modern values and ends of personal Protestant religiosity and collective liberal institutional authority. As Block shows, this complex relation of self to society lies at the root of the American character. A Nation of Agents is a new reading of what the "first new nation" did and did not achieve. It will enable us to move beyond long-standing national myths and grasp both the American achievement and its legacy for modernity. Table of Contents: Preface 1. The American Narrative in Crisis Part I. The English Origins of the American Self and Society 2. The Early Puritan Insurgents and the Origins of Agency 3. The Protestant Revolutionaries and the Emerging Society of Agents 4. Thomas Hobbes and the Founding of the Liberal Politics of Agency 5. John Locke and the Mythic Society of Free Agents Part II. The Ascendancy of Agency and the First New Nation 6. The Great Awakening and the Emergent Culture of Agency 7. The Revolutionary Triumph of Agency Part III. The Dilemma of Nationhood 8. The Liberal Idyll amidst Republican Realities 9. From the Idyll: Liberation and Reversal in a World without Bounds Part IV. The Creation of an Agency Civilization 10. National Revival as the Crucible of Agency Character 11. From Sectarian Discord to Civil Religion 12. The Protestant Agent in Liberal Economics 13. John Dewey and the Modern Synthesis Conclusion: The Recovery of Agency Notes Index Reviews of this book: A Nation of Agents is a work of extravagant erudition and originality. James E. Block has read voraciously in the sources, seen things that few have seen before, and put them together as none have done before. He sets forth a new view of American culture, threading his thesis through three centuries of American thought and the preceding century of English thinking besides. --Michael Zuckerman, Journal of American History Reviews of this book: What a wonder then is James Block's book, a daring master narrative and bracing theoretical exercise of the first order. It promises and delivers nothing less than a fundamental recasting of 'the American path to a modern self and society.' --Robert Westbrook, Christian Century Reviews of this book: James Block's big, ambitious A Nation of Agents leaves no doubt about its aspirations in the contest to solve the Gordian knot of the relationship between the one and the many in American social thought...The subtlety and acuity with which Block develops these themes through scores of thinkers and over 500 pages can scarcely be exaggerated. A Nation of Agents is a genuinely prodigious work of scholarship. --Daniel T. Rodgers, Modern Intellectual History This is an original and exciting work of scholarship, in which the idea of agency takes on the characteristics of a deep cultural imperative in American life. Block's agency thesis is at once a genealogy of modern American identity and a theoretical exploration of the horizon within which American political and moral self-reflection is conducted. --Eldon J. Eisenach, The University of Tulsa The most remarkable aspect of this book is the author's ability to weave a single thread -- the thread of "agency" -- through four centuries of Anglo-American intellectual history. Block's great achievement is to propound a new "common theme" to American history. A Nation of Agents is a beacon for scholars seeking a usable past. If ever intellectual history is to regain its prominence in the field of American history it will require works like this. --Harry S. Stout, Yale University
Americans are in need of sound scientific information - and here it is, in an up-to-date, thoroughly researched work on how to prolong youth and health into the later years. Beginning with an explanation of the aging process, Aging covers all the main topics relevant to life extension, including how to preserve bone mass, protect vision, and minimize aging of the skin. The recommendations for diet, exercise, and life style are practicable and even enjoyable (especially the tempting recipes provided).
Block Copolymers: Overview and Critical Survey is a critical review of block copolymer technology and a comprehensive critical survey on the synthesis, characterization, properties, and applications of the specific block copolymer structures reported in the literature. The copolymers are organized according to segmental architecture and chemical composition. Comprised of seven chapters, this book begins with an overview of what block copolymers are, how they are made, and what they can and cannot be expected to do. The next chapter defines block copolymers and compares them with other types of polymer "hybrids," that is, polymer blends, random copolymers, and graft copolymers. The various segmental architectures that are possible with block copolymers are then described, followed by a discussion on the various synthesis techniques applicable to block copolymers; the characterization methods capable of elucidating block copolymer structures; some applications of commercially available block copolymers; and some future challenges for block copolymer technology. The last three chapters are devoted to A-B diblock copolymers, A-B-A triblock copolymers, and (A-B)n multiblock copolymers. This monograph should be useful to readers who want to become generally conversant with block copolymer technology and to those who need to delve more deeply into the subject.
These two complete indexes rectify a number of shortcomings in the existing finding aids to Maryland wills. Altogether about 5,000 wills for St. Mary's County and 7,500 wills for Somerset County, many of them dated prior to 1800, are indexed.
September 22, 1991, promised to be another hot Sunday for Montana State Prison swampers Robert Powell and Chuck McFarlane, two prisoners serving time in the protective custody (PC) section of the prison. The morning heat, however, did not prepare them enough for the harrowing events about to unfold in the next hours of their turbulent lives. In the time that the swampers and the officers were going about their routines, the other prisoners in the maximum security section were finalizing their plans¿hatched sometime before¿to stage a riot that would set all hell to break loose inside the confined structure. Smelling of the blood of the PC inmates, the maximum security prisoners exploded with a round of murder and pillage. The day¿s dark deeds would not only compromise the lives of fellow inmates and prison officers, these would also set the tone of how all the lives of those involved will go on from that point.
Written specifically for architects, this text helps students learn AutoCAD by actually using it in planning and designing a wide variety of realistic situations. Using a non-technical writing style and hands-on PROMPT/RESPONSE tutorial approach, it takes students step-by-step through the creation of all of the drawings necessary for an architectural project - from floor plans, and elevations, through power and lighting plans, to isometric and three-dimensional drawings. *Covering the latest version of AutoCAD, Release 14, using the Windows operating system, shows the new commands relating to raster images in AutoCAD drawings. *Uses a Computer PROMPT/User RESPONSE format that leads students through each new AutoCAD command - and that allows the text to be used as either a self-paced tutorial or in a lecture-lab situation, each drawing chapter contains from one to four exercises that introduce commands as they are used in a drawing. The step-by-step, PROMPT/RESPONSE sequences (and thorough description of the commands) take students from starting a drawing to plotting it. *Features exercises that are geared to architects and that provide the opportunity to work with real world situ
Comprehensive, detailed, and up to date, Roberts and & Hedges’ Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care, 7th Edition, provides highly visual coverage of both common and uncommon procedures encountered in emergency medicine and acute care practice. It clearly describes the ins and outs of every procedure you're likely to consider, such as how, why, when to, and when not to perform them, in addition toand recommends other emergency or acute care procedures that may be an option. Thoroughly revised and updated throughout, the 7th Edition remains the most well-known and trusted procedures manual in its field Covers the latest equipment, devices, drug therapies, and techniques you need to know for the effective practice of emergency medicine and acute care. Features new and updated information on ultrasound throughout the text, including Ultrasound Boxes which that are expertly written and richly illustrated with photographs and clinical correlative images. Includes more Procedure Boxes that allow you to see entire procedures at a glance, functioning as a mini-atlas that allows you to quickly grasp how to perform a procedure. Contains hundreds more than 100 of new figures— – of more than 3,500 images total— – plus including new color photographs, a new Ultrasound Boxes, and new algorithms, new authors, new concepts and approaches. Features a new chapter on Procedures in the Setting of Anticoagulation. Covers hot topics such as novel loop abscess drainage technique, ENT techniques, and ophthalmology techniques, as well as procedures performed by acute care practitioners such as sedation of the agitated patient, alternate methods of drug delivery, and common errors and complications in the acute care setting.
Written specifically for practitioners of interior design, this book helps readers learn AutoCAD by actually using it in planning and designing a wide variety of realistic interiors. It covers both 2- and 3-dimensional aspects of AutoCAD 2002. Using a non-technical writing style and hands-on PROMPT/RESPONSE tutorial approach, it takes readers step-by-step through the creation of all of the drawings necessary for a space planning project (Tenant Space project)--from floor plans, elevations, and furniture planning, through power and lighting plans, to isometric and three-dimensional drawings. An Overview of the AutoCAD Program; Preparing to Draw with AutoCAD; Drawing with AutoCAD: Basic Commands and Settings; Drawing with AutoCAD: Conference and Lecture Rooms; Adding Text to the Drawing; Printing and Plotting; Drawing the Floor Plan: Walls, Doors, and Windows; Dimensioning and Area Calculations; Drawing Elevations, Wall Sections, and Details; Drawing and Adding Specifications to Furnishings and the AutoCAD Design Center; Drawing the Reflected Ceiling Plan and Power Plan; Isometric Drawing; Creating Presentations and Creating a Web Page Using AutoCAD; Using Raster Images and Grips; Customizing Toolbars and Menus; Basic Three-Dimensional Models; Solid Modeling. For interior designers.
The present book is a sequel to "Elastomers and Rubber Elasticity," edited by J.E. Mark and J. Lal and published by the American Chemical Society in 1982. It is also based on papers presented at an ACS Symposium, sponsored by the Division of Polymer Chemistry, Inc., in this case one held in Chicago in September of 1985. The keynote speaker was to have been Pro fessor Paul J. Flory, and his untimely death just prior to the symposium was a tremendous loss to all of polymer science, in particular to those in terested in elastomeric materials. It is to his memory that this book is dedicated. There has been a great deal of progress in preparing and studying elas tomers since the preceding symposium, which was in 1981. In the case of the synthesis and curing of elastomers, much of the background necessary to an appreciation of these advances is given in the first, introductory chapter.
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