In the end, as Smith says, looking at emerging adults and the state of today’s culture confronts us with core existential questions: What are humans? What is our ultimate purpose? Mere material comfort, or something higher? It is far from clear that we have the collective will, on the scale that is needed, to rise from a media-driven, pleasure-centered culture to a more transcendent vision of the human enterprise.
But there are hopeful global stirrings. And we can thank Smith and his colleagues for taking the measure of our collective challenge and encouraging us to tackle the task.
A longer version of this article first appeared at MecatorNet and is used by permission under a Creators Common licence.
By Thomas Lickona
Thomas Lickona is a developmental psychologist and professor of education at the State University of New York at Cortland, where he founded and directs the Center for the 4th and 5th Rs (Respect and Responsibility; www.cortland.edu/character). He has written or edited nine books on moral development and character education including Raising Good Children, Educating for Character, and Smart & Good High Schools. He has appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America", "The Larry King Live Radio Show,” National Public Radio, and Focus on the Family. He can be reached at lickona@cortland.edu
