'The Genteel Tradition in American Philosophy' and 'Character and Opinion in the United States' (Rethinking the Western Tradition) - Softcover

George Santayana; James Seaton; Wilfred M. McClay; John Lachs; Roger Kimball

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0300116659 ISBN 13: 9780300116656

Publisher: Yale University Press, 2009

Synopsis

This book brings together two seminal works by George Santayana, one of the most significant philosophers of the twentieth-century: 'Character and Opinion in the United States', which stands with Tocqueville's 'Democracy in America' as one the most insightful works of American cultural criticism ever written; and 'The Genteel Tradition in American Philosophy', a landmark text of both philosophical analysis and cultural criticism. An introduction by James Seaton situates Santayana in the intellectual and cultural context of his own time. Four additional essays include: John Lachs on the ways Santayana's understanding of 'the soul of America' helps explain the relative peace among nationalities and ethnic groups in the United States; Wilfred McClay on Santayana's life of the mind as it relates to dominant trends in American culture; Roger Kimball on Santayana's 'most uncommon benefice, common sense'; and James Seaton on Santayana's distinction between 'English liberty' and 'fierce liberty'. All the essays serve to highlight the relevance of Santayana's ideas to current issues in American culture, including education, immigration, and civil rights.

About this title

Review:

'Santayana's comments on American culture include invaluable observations about the pressure to conform in democracies, the vitality and youthful outlook of American society, the importance of humor and the love of quantity in America . . . . A welcome and substantial contribution.' --John Paul Russo, University of Miami

About the Author:

James Seaton is Professor of English at Michigan State University. His other books include 'Cultural Conservatism, Political Liberalism: From Criticism to Cultural Studies' (1996) and 'Beyond Cheering and Bashing: New Perspectives on The Closing of the American Mind' (1992), which he co-edited with William K. Buckley.

About this edition

• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0300116659
• ISBN 13: 9780300116656
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 240
• Editor: James Seaton