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Ends of Civilization Anniversaries are occasions for reflection and often for celebration. In 2000 we began celebrating the anniversary of time itself: the beginning and end of a millennium.
The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities wishes to encourage people throughout our state to take stock of the human achievement and to share their thoughts and feelings and aspirations with one another, at home, in the workplace, and in their communities. The Books
The five books included in this reading and discussion series, all published in this the final decade of the twentieth century, were widely reviewed and provoked considerable controversy at the time. Each of them offers a critical assessment of a major area of human inquiry, endeavor or concern and asks, “Where do we go from here?” The status of politics and government, science, education, the environment, and social relations in America are examined by journalists, scholars, and cultural critics and fundamental questions are raised about the nature and possibility of further progress in these critically important areas. The multidisciplinary approach in this series will appeal to a broad range of interests and engage as discussion leaders scientists, historians, political scientists, philosophers, journalists and ecologists.
How the program works: Participants sign up in advance at the library or other host institution. About two weeks before the first session, the first book in the series is distributed. (If you wish you may purchase your own copies of the books. They all are available in paperback and each would be a worthwhile addition to your personal library.) Participants take the book home, read it and return on the appointed evening for a brief presentation and open discussion with a specially trained discussion leader. At the end of the session, you return the book you have just read and receive the next book in the series. You return two weeks later to discuss the second book, and so on until the series is completed. Sometimes you may not be able to finish one of the books, but you should plan to attend the discussion anyway. You will still get a lot out of it — all of the books address issues about which you probably have informed opinions — and you will be ready to receive the next book in the series. Enjoy yourself! A reading and discussion program is a social as well as an educational experience. The Ends of Civilization is an opportunity for an extended conversation among thoughtful people who live in the same community and share a common interest in its future. Libraries In 2003, this series will be available as part of our regular reading and discussion series. For more information on borrowing the books or receiving a small grant please click here. Please feel free to call or email Hayley Wood, Resource Center Director in our Northampton office if you have any questions. |
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The dawn of the third millennium presents a rare opportunity to take the long view and assess both how far we have come and how far we have yet to go to fully realize our potential as thinking, feeling and valuing human beings with some measure of control over our own destiny.
