The Historical Mind: Humanistic Renewal in a Post-Constitutional Age

Description

Timely and provocative asessment of various cultural, moral, and political problems in "post-constitutional" America. America is increasingly defined not only by routine disregard for its fundamental laws, but also by the decadent character of its political leaders and citizens―widespread consumerism and self-indulgent behavior, cultural hedonism and anarchy, the coarsening of moral and political discourse, and a reckless interventionism in international relations. In The Historical Mind, various scholars argue that America’s problems are rooted in its people’s refusal to heed the lessons of historical experience and to adopt “constitutional” checks or self-imposed restraints on their cultural, moral, and political lives. Drawing inspiration from the humanism of Irving Babbitt and Claes G. Ryn, the contributors offer a timely and provocative assessment of the American present and contend that only a humanistic order guided by the wisdom of historical consciousness has genuine promise for facilitating fresh thinking about the renewal of American culture, morality, and politics. Contents Acknowledgments Introduction Post-Constitutional America A Historical Humanism Imagination, Character, and Culture Democracies and America America and the World Humanistic Renewal Notes Bibliography Part I. The New Humanism One What I Believe: Rousseau and Religion I II III IV V Notes Bibliography Two Power without Limits: The Allure of Political Idealism and the Crumbling of American Constitutionalism The Old Morality and its Social and Political Entailments Idealism: Morality Reconceived Idealism and the Desire for Power Idealism Versus Constitutionalism Notes Bibliography Part II. Culture and Imagination Three Russell Kirk and the Romance of Babbittianism What has Babbitt to Do With Kirk? Romanticism and its Mysterious Origins Agreement: Liberal Education Notes Bibliography Four The Pillars of Hercules: Babbitt, Warren, and the Dangers of Scientific Naturalism Representative American Views of Science Concerns About Science Consensus in American Literature and Philosophy Warren, Babbitt, Science, and Pseudo-Science Warren, Babbitt, Pseudo-Science, and Politics Warren, Babbitt, Pseudo-Science, and the Individual Warren, Babbitt, and Recovering From Scientific Naturalism A Future for Science and Humanism in America Notes Bibliography Five Luminosity, Imagination, Truth: On Voegelin and Ryn Ryn on the Imagination Voegelin on Consciousness and History Imagination in Voegelin Imagination in Voegelin's Late Work Notes Bibliography Part III. Ethics and Character Six Politics, Moral Judgment, and the Enlightenment Project The Problem of Knowing Abstract Rationalism Versus Traditional Knowledge Modern Society's Destructive Power The Way Forward Notes Bibliography Seven Natural Law, the Moral Imagination, and Prudent Exceptions 1. Natural Law Theory and its Conservative Critics 2. Sorting Out The Issues a. Extreme versus Moderate Generalism b. Exceptionless versus Defeasible Generalizations c. Role of Experience and the Imagination versus “Pure” Reason 3. In Defense of Moderate Generalism 4. Role of Exceptionless Prohibitions 5. Interdependency of Reason and the Imagination 6. Conclusion: A Reconciliation Notes Bibliography Eight Irving Babbitt and Christianity: A Response to T. S. Eliot Babbitt as Heretic? Babbitt as Christian? Babbitt as Aristotelian Babbitt as Virtue Ethicist Notes Bibliography Part IV. America and Constitutional Spirit Nine Can Constitutions Preserve the Engendering Experiences of Order? Constitutional Meaning and the Rise of Progressive Constitutionalism Gnostic Estrangement in Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward The Restoration of Order in American Constitutionalism Conclusion Notes Bibliography Ten On the Moral Necessity of Constitutionalism: Claes Ryn and Ethical Democracy Plebiscitary Democracy and Political Instrumentalism Constitutionalism and Political Ends Constitutionalism and Culture Constitutional Morality The State Versus Constitutionalism Constitutionalism and the Taming of the Modern State Notes Bibliography Part V. America, Humanism, and the World Eleven “Let Things Be Called by Their Right Names”: Difference as Constraint in American Exceptionalism Notes Bibliography Twelve A Little Place and a Big Idea: The Temptation to Imperialism and the Loss of Republicanism Notes Bibliography Thirteen Resistance and Renewal: Irving Babbitt and China What Might Babbitt Offer China? Babbittian Humanism in China: Reception and Confrontation Babbittian Humanism in China: Enduring Challenges Babbittian Humanism, China, and America Notes Bibliography Conclusion Note Bibliography Contributors Index