One Sentence Summary:
‘slouching Towards Gomorrah’ by Robert H. Bork argues against the moral decline and cultural chaos in America, caused by a rejection of traditional values and a liberal, permissive attitude towards social issues.
Book Genre:
Non-fiction, Political Philosophy, Cultural Critique
Main Topic of the Book:
The decline of morality and cultural decay in America and its effects on society, caused by a rejection of traditional values and a liberal, permissive attitude towards social issues.
Key Ideas:
- Moral decline in America is causing cultural chaos and weakening the foundation of society.
- The counterculture of the 1960s and its liberal, permissive attitudes have led to a rejection of traditional values and a rise in immorality.
- The rejection of traditional values has resulted in a society that is increasingly selfish, materialistic, and focused on self-gratification.
- The failure of the legal system to support traditional moral values and limit individual rights is contributing to the erosion of morality in society.
- The role of religion and traditional moral values in maintaining a healthy and orderly society.
Main Parts of the Book:
- Part I: The Crisis
- Part II: The Roots
- Part III: Themes
- Part IV: Causes
- Part V: Consequences
In this section, Bork presents his argument about the moral decline in America and its effects on society, including crime, family breakdown, and cultural degradation.
Here, Bork examines the historical and cultural roots of the moral decline, specifically the impact of the counterculture of the 1960s and its rejection of traditional values.
Bork explores various social issues, such as abortion, pornography, and drugs, and how they are contributing to the decay of American society.
This section delves deeper into the causes of the corrupt culture, including the failure of the legal system, the decline of religion, and the rise of radical individualism.
In the final section, Bork discusses the consequences of cultural decline and offers his insights on how to reverse this trend and restore traditional moral values.
Key Takeaways:
- The rejection of traditional values and the rise of a liberal, permissive culture have led to the moral decay and cultural chaos in America.
- Family breakdown, crime, and cultural degradation are the consequences of this moral decline.
- Traditional religious and moral values are integral to maintaining a healthy and orderly society.
- The legal system needs to support and uphold traditional values to prevent further moral decline.
- Individualism and self-gratification have contributed to the erosion of morality in society.
Author’s Background and Qualifications:
Robert H. Bork (1927-2012) was an American legal scholar and conservative political commentator. He served as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and was nominated by President Ronald Reagan for the Supreme Court in 1987, but was rejected by the Senate due to his conservative views.
Bork was known for his conservative stance on social and cultural issues and his belief in originalism, the idea that the Constitution should be interpreted according to its original meaning. In ‘Slouching Towards Gomorrah’, Bork draws on his expertise in law and his conservative values to analyze the moral decline in America.
Target Audience:
This book is targeted towards a general adult audience interested in political philosophy, societal issues, and cultural criticism. It is particularly relevant for those concerned about the current state of American society and the role of traditional values in shaping a moral and orderly culture.
Publisher and First Publication Date:
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
First Publication Date: 1996