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Testing the National Covenant: Fears and Appetites in American Politic

460 views · Published 10 April 2012 · 1:05:20 · Indexed 1 November 2026

Channel: Library of Congress · 2012 · Education

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In his recent book, ethicist William May argues that the biblical idea of a covenant, which binds people together for a common good, offers a more promising way to deal with national problems than the language of contract, which is grounded in self-interest alone.

Speaker Biography: William F. May received his Ph.D. from Yale and taught for many years at Southern Methodist University where he was Cary M. Maguire Professor of Ethics until retirement in May 2001. He was the founding director of the Cary M. Maguire Center for Ethics and Public Responsibility. In Sept 2007 he was appointed named to the Maguire Chair in American History and Ethics at John W. Kluge Center in the Library of Congress. He is best known for his work in medical ethics.

For transcript, captions, and more information visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5464.

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