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  • Published: 25 June 2009
  • ISBN: 9780141961262
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 208

In Search of Civilization

Remaking a tarnished idea




Why reviving the grand meaning of 'Civilization' will lead to a cultural renaissance

In Arthur Ransome's charming tale of childhood adventure, Secret Water, four children are pretending to be savages approaching an outpost of the civilized world.

'What is civilization?' asks Bridget, the youngest.

'Ices,' explains her brother, 'and all that sort of thing.'

It is probably the briefest definition of the term on record in English, though it doesn't quite do justice to the grand idea of civilization. But if it isn't ices then what exactly is meant by civilization, and why do we need it?

Today, the debate around civilization and its meaning has almost disappeared. If talked about at all, it will be as part of a different debate: the political tensions between different parts of the world, colonial history, developments in engineering.Yet the promise of civilization is greater: if considered in its full meaning civilization can be a way of reconnecting grand, societal forces - economic liberty, social freedom - with the more intimate and deeper needs of life - wisdom, maturity, a flourishing of culture. In In Search of Civilization John Armstrong argues cogently and passionately that our sources of wisdom, maturity and happiness are rapidly drying up.Only by reviving a conversation about civilization can we put in place the conditions for our renaissance.

  • Published: 25 June 2009
  • ISBN: 9780141961262
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 208

About the author

John Armstrong

Associate Professor John Armstrong is Philosopher-in-Residence at Melbourne Business School and Senior Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor of Melbourne University. Born in Glasgow and educated at Oxford and London, he has lived in Australia since 2001. He is the author of several internationally acclaimed books, including The Secret Power of Beauty, Conditions of Love and Love, Life, Goethe.

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Praise for In Search of Civilization

In a passionate defence of its qualities, John Armstrong argues that the concept of civilisation still has specific meaning . . . it is underscored with the fragments of a memoir that in part explains . . . the book's considerable charm and spirit of innocent longing

Elizabeth Speller, Financial Times

An engaging and persuasive writer with a very non-technical approach to theoretical issues . . . he has some fine turns of phrase . . . His aesthetic sense seems strong and reliable

Noel Malcolm, Sunday Telegraph

In a passionate defence of its qualities, John Armstrong argues that the concept of civilisation still has specific meaning . . . it is underscored with the fragments of a memoir that in part explains . . . the book's considerable charm and spirit of innocent longing

Elizabeth Speller, Financial Times

John Armstrong's new book, lyrical, courageous and uplifting, is seeking to do nothing less than reform the ambitions of western societies and encourage the growth of a set of values he captures with a highly unusual and intriguing word: "civilisation".

Alain de Botton, Guardian