AMERICA'S MORAL AND ETHICAL STATURE ABROAD

In: The annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Band 384, S. 96-103

Abstract

The modern liberal is still inclined to inquire into the moral & ethical stature of nations in the manner of the 18thcent soc critic who presupposed the rationalism of individuals & the progress of society. Such questions do not have much meaning in the relativized world of contemporary man. America's standing among the nations of the world is an endlessly varied equation determined b,y time, accident, & eireunnstance, but, in the long run, most affected by her standing as the foremost nat'l power with the most highly developed sci'fic-technical plant in the world. Nat'lism is the primary source of the internal & external problems of contemporary societies & is fraught with great risks when sci'fic-technical competition occurs in its framework. America tends always to act to preserve the internat'l status quo, a tendency which is not only futile in the long run, but which also tends to prevent the development of a world community & the reconstruction of local society which could turn sci'fic-technical developments to positive account. HA.