From Athens to America: Virtues And the Formulation of Public Policy

From Athens to America calls for the reversal of the withdrawal of the character-forming function from the political domain, arguing for public sector--federal, state, and local--involvement in character formation. Solomon focuses on four specific virtues to serve as a guide to public policy formation: self-esteem, joy and optimism, equanimity, and personal responsibility. He calls for the public sector to move beyond the efforts of families, faith communities, and civic organizations, and take a vital role in fostering character development and promoting these virtues. Combining political science with philosophy, the Judeo-Christian tradition, and medical research, this book illustrates how we formulate public policies that enable people to grow and develop into healthy humans, what each of us is fully capable of becoming.

Lewis D. Solomon is Theodore Rinehart Professor of Business Law at The George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC.