Major Thinkers in Welfare: Contemporary Issues in Historical Perspective

Description

This is the first book to examine the views of a number of theorists from ancient times to the 19th century on a range of welfare issues: wealth, poverty and inequality; slavery, gender issues, and the family; child rearing and education; crime and punishment; the role of government in society; the strengths and weaknesses of government provision vis a vis market provision. The book also looks at the values of the various theorists as well as their perception of human nature for these tend to underpin their welfare views. The book will make essential reading for students of social policy, gender issues, community care, social work, and sociology.

Vic George is Emeritus Professor in Social Policy and Social Work at the University of Kent, Canterbury. He has previously worked at the London School of Economics and Political Science and the University of Nottingham. He has authored and edited 18 books written around the themes of inequality and poverty, several of which have been translated into other languages. He lives in Canterbury.

"This book has two virtues: it offers the broadest historical range of any study of ideas about welfare, and it uses the analysis of to show how social context and philosophical approach shape thinking about social provision and the good society." --- Peter Taylor-Gooby FBA, AcSS, Director ESRC Risk Programme. "This is a very good book indeed ... Above all, it is clear, detailed and interesting, excellently free from jargon and convoluted prose, and a pleasure to read." --- Journal of Social Policy. "Professor George has made a major contribution to the welfare literature. I urge him to continue his important work!" --- International Journal of Social Welfare