"The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy" is a book by Thomas Sowell that critiques the mindset and policies of what he terms "the anointed" – intellectuals, policymakers, and social reformers who Sowell argues are driven by a vision of what society should be and who impose their ideas through social policies, often without regard to empirical evidence or the unintended consequences of their actions. Here’s a detailed summary of the main points and themes from the book:

Overview of Key Concepts

1. The Vision of the Anointed:

• Concept: Sowell describes the vision of the anointed as a set of beliefs held by intellectuals and policymakers who see themselves as morally and intellectually superior, capable of designing and implementing policies for the greater good.
• Attributes: This vision includes a belief in the power of social engineering, the idea that societal problems can be solved through expert knowledge and government intervention.

2. Four Stages of the Vision:

• Stage 1: The Assertion of a Crisis: An existing situation is labeled a crisis, often without empirical evidence.
• Stage 2: The Solution: A policy is proposed as the solution to the crisis, usually involving government intervention or social engineering.
• Stage 3: The Results: When the policy fails or produces negative results, these outcomes are ignored or rationalized away.
• Stage 4: The Response to Criticism: Critics of the policy are dismissed as uninformed, misguided, or morally deficient.

3. Case Studies and Examples:

• Sowell uses various examples to illustrate the vision of the anointed and its consequences, including policies on crime, education, poverty, and family structure. He argues that these policies often ignore empirical evidence and produce harmful effects.

Detailed Themes and Insights

1. Empirical Evidence vs. Ideological Commitment:

• Evidence Ignored: Sowell argues that the anointed often ignore or dismiss empirical evidence that contradicts their vision. Instead, they rely on ideology and theory to guide their policies.
• Rationalization of Failures: When policies fail, the anointed tend to rationalize the failures rather than reconsider their initial assumptions.

2. Moral Superiority and Social Policy:

• Self-Congratulation: Sowell criticizes the self-congratulatory nature of the anointed, who see themselves as morally superior and their policies as inherently just.
• Demonization of Opponents: Critics of the anointed’s policies are often demonized and portrayed as lacking compassion or understanding.

3. Unintended Consequences:

• Policy Failures: Sowell provides numerous examples where well-intentioned policies have led to negative consequences, such as increased crime rates following lenient sentencing policies or declining educational standards following progressive reforms.
• Ignoring Complexity: The anointed often oversimplify complex social issues, leading to policies that fail to address the root causes or that create new problems.

4. The Role of Intellectuals:

• Intellectual Influence: Sowell discusses the significant influence that intellectuals and their ideas have on public policy, despite often lacking practical experience or empirical grounding.
• Disconnected from Reality: He argues that many intellectuals are disconnected from the realities of the people affected by their policies.

5. Alternatives to the Vision of the Anointed:

• Empirical Approach: Sowell advocates for policies based on empirical evidence and real-world results rather than ideological visions.
• Incremental Change: He supports incremental and localized approaches to policy-making, which allow for adjustments based on feedback and evidence.

Conclusion

"The Vision of the Anointed" is a critique of the arrogance and hubris of policymakers and intellectuals who impose their visions on society without sufficient regard for empirical evidence and the consequences of their actions. Sowell argues for a more humble and evidence-based approach to social policy, one that recognizes the complexity of social issues and the limitations of human knowledge.

The book encourages skepticism towards grand social engineering schemes and highlights the importance of grounding policies in reality rather than ideology. By examining the failures of various social policies, Sowell makes a case for a more pragmatic and results-oriented approach to addressing social issues.