Asylum
A Moral Dilemma
Published on 23. May 1995
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-0-275-95196-2 (ISBN)
Description
Fueled by the explosion of the world's population, the quest for asylum is one of the most pressing problems of our age. Refugee receiving nations-located frequently, but by no means exclusively, in the Western world-have to respond to masses of humanity searching for new livable homes. Human compassion for these refugees can be found everywhere, but so can xenophobia and the desire to preserve one's nation, economic well being, and cultural integrity. The clash between these impulses represents one of the great dilemmas of our time and is the subject of Plaut's study. In exploring it, he provides a far-ranging inquiry into the human condition. The book presents political, ethnic, philosophical, religious, and sociological arguments, and deals with some of the most troublesome and heartbreaking conflicts in the news.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
284 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-275-95196-2 (9780275951962)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
W. GUNTHER PLAUT is a senior scholar at the Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. Born in Germany, where he received his doctor of laws, he fled Hitler's Reich for the United States where he became a rabbi, serving in Chicago, St. Paul, and since 1961 in Toronto. Plaut is the author of 20 books, including Torah: A Modern Commentary, of which he is the editor and principal author. He is a research fellow at the Centre for Refugee Studies at York University.
Content
The Issues Questions Without Answers Definitions Religion, Natural Law, and Hospitality A Look at History Some Ethical Questions Through the Lens of Sociobiology Community and Individual Contended Rights: To Leave, Return, Remain The Practice Refugees in Africa Four Asian Lands Glimpses of Europe and Central America The North American Experience The Sanctuary Movement A Final Look Appendix A: Egyptian and Hittite Treaties Appendix B: Human Rights-Major Documents Appendix C: Refugee Documents; Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees of 31 January 1967 Bibliography Index