Reason Enough to Hope: America and the World of the Twenty-first Century [Hardcover]

Philip Morrison (Author), Kosta Tsipis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 18, 1998

In this "blue-sky" effort to rethink humanity's basic challenges, Philip Morrison and Kosta Tsipis—both eminent scientists with deep expertise in arms control issues—sketch the broad outlines for a global approach to the problems of security and development. Their goal is to set priorities for feasible action, and their focus is threefold: war and particularly the continuing dangers of nuclear weapons, population and the promotion of increased levels of human well-being, and the threat of environmental degradation.

Although their topics are global, the authors focus on the actions of the United States. In their discussion of nuclear options, for example, they argue that reducing American military expenditures can be a catalyst for lowering the world's nuclear risk, establishing a policy of "common security" in response to conventional war, and freeing resources that will allow substantial steps toward "common development." In their discussion of human needs, the authors emphasize the fact that the rate of annual growth in the world's population peaked between 1967 and 1970 and has declined steadily ever since; we can therefore now project what the near steady-state level might be. This topping off of population growth should give us a new baseline from which to address both development and environmental issues.

Editorial Reviews

From Scientific American

Painting on a broad canvas, Morrison and Tsipis develop a picture of what global conditions might be in the coming decades. Their book is about "what is possible and hopeful" in human affairs. They treat the issues of war and peace, the growing human population, the need for economic development to reduce mass poverty, and the price of continued growth in its effects on the global environment. Three major perils that lie ahead, the authors say, can be mitigated by intelligent action. The first is large-scale war; the intelligent action is to build a "system of Common Security among nations," meanwhile gaining firm control over all nuclear weapons and reducing military budgets below some 2 percent of gross domestic product. The second peril is "the unmet daily needs of billions of people," for which the response is "Common Development," financed in large part by the savings in military expenditures. The third is degradation of the global environment; the response is to "move toward a better and fairer regime of frugality and efficiency" that would make it possible to "confront under global consensus the environmental problems whose advent and whose remedy must be found on still grander a scale." In sum: "The optimistic message of this book stands on a simple recognition. The fundamental parameters governing the outlook for humanity's future in terms of energy, war, water, food, and population are hopeful."

Review

"Focusing on broad trends rather than year-to-year political battles, the authors offer a hopeful case that nations can learn to cope with the next century's challenges." -- Mary Carroll, Booklist, December 15, 1998

"Painting on a broad canvas, Morrison and Tsipis develop a picture of what global conditions might be in the coming decades. Their book is about ‘what is possible and hopeful'in human affairs." -- Scientific American, "The Editors Recommend," February 1999

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 228 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (November 18, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 026213344X
• ISBN-13: 978-0262133449
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,328,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Naive? I don't think so., February 28, 2002

By 

Ethan Close (Brookline, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reason Enough to Hope: America and the World of the Twenty-first Century (Hardcover)

This book is fantastic if you read it slowly and with an open mind. They are not promoting a utopia, but instead a better world. The ideas come from far above the harsh realities of day to day life, but they should (could) affect the governments and leaders of the world and voters in democratic societies. Did you know that the rate of increase of the population is slowing? Did you know that for 30 years planes circled the globe carrying nuclear bombs? Do you have any idea of the scales of expenditure related to the military or food or medicine? If you care, read this book.

2 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, but naiive, minds, June 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Reason Enough to Hope: America and the World of the Twenty-first Century (Hardcover)

This is what happens when otherwise brilliant men venture into area where their ignorance outstrips their wisdom. Morrison and Tsipis are both well known and well regarded in physics and les sso in the realm of politics, and not at all in economics. Their solution for conflict and poverty assumes that every individual on the planet is, like themselves, a kind hearted, well-intentioned individual who will readily put their self interest aside for the betterment of others. Would that it were so.

But it's not, and Morrison and Tsipis' naive utopian formula is no different from a thousand other utopian prescriptions. At best, they're ineffectual, and at worst, they lead to opression and dictatorship. For a more realistic view of the typical outcome of utopian societies, read Robert Conquest's "The Great Terror".