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The Vision of the Anointed
320 pages, 1996
In The Vision of the Anointed, Sowell offers a provocative critique of liberalism's failures. He sees what has happened not as a series of isolated mistakes but as a logical consequence of a vision whose defects have led to disasters in education, crime, family disintegration, and other social pathology.
In this book, the politically correct theory is repeatedly confronted with facts—and sharp contradictions between the two are explained in terms of a whole set of self-congratulatory assumptions held by political and intellectual elites.
These elites—the anointed—often consider themselves thinking people, but much of what they call thinking turns out, on examination, to be rhetorical assertion followed by evasions of mounting evidence against those assertions.
Thomas Sowell's book, The Vision of the Anointed, explores the mindset of the 'anointed' - those who believe they have a superior vision for society. He suggests that this vision often leads to policies that ignore empirical evidence and can result in negative consequences.
Sowell emphasizes the importance of evidence in policy-making. He argues that the 'anointed' often disregard evidence that contradicts their vision, leading to ineffective and potentially harmful policies. So, it's crucial to always check the facts before making decisions.
One of the key points in The Vision of the Anointed is the danger of self-congratulation. Sowell suggests that the 'anointed' often congratulate themselves on their intentions, rather than the results of their actions. This can prevent them from seeing the negative impacts of their policies.
Sowell encourages readers to question assumptions. He argues that the 'anointed' often base their policies on assumptions that are not supported by evidence. By questioning these assumptions, we can make better decisions and avoid the pitfalls of the 'anointed' vision.
In The Vision of the Anointed, Sowell highlights the importance of diverse perspectives in policy-making. He suggests that the 'anointed' often dismiss alternative viewpoints, which can lead to a narrow and potentially harmful vision for society. So, it's important to explore different perspectives and consider all sides of an issue.
