Timely and provocative assessment 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.
Justin D. Garrison is Associate Professor of Political Science at Roanoke College and the author of "An Empire of Ideals": The Chimeric Imagination of Ronald Reagan. Ryan R. Holston is Professor and Jonathan Myrick Daniels '61 Chair for Academic Excellence at Virginia Military Institute.
