The Decline of Moral Formation in American Society

This chapter discusses the various factors contributing to the overall sadness, alienation, and rudeness observed in American society. It explores the impact of social media, decline in community participation, demographic changes, and economic inequality; however, the speaker argues that the lack of moral formation is the deepest and most important factor. It discusses the history of morally formative institutions in America, the concept of Bildung and its influence, the shift from moral formation to self-awareness, and the decline of moral education starting from the 1940s and 50s.