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Democracy and Leadership
. . . one of the few truly important works of political thought.
—Russell Kirk
Irving Babbitt was a leader of the intellectual movement called American Humanism, or the New Humanism, and a distinguished professor of French literature at Harvard. Democracy and Leadership, first published in 1924, is his only directly political book, and in it he applies the principles of humanism to the civil social order.
Babbitt rejects all deterministic philosophies of history, whether they be the older type found in Saint Augustine or Bossuet, which tends to make of man the puppet of God, or the new type, which tends in all its varieties to make of man the puppet of nature. He offers a compelling critique of unchecked majoritarianism and addresses the great problem of how to discover leaders with standards.
—Russell Kirk
Irving Babbitt was a leader of the intellectual movement called American Humanism, or the New Humanism, and a distinguished professor of French literature at Harvard. Democracy and Leadership, first published in 1924, is his only directly political book, and in it he applies the principles of humanism to the civil social order.
Babbitt rejects all deterministic philosophies of history, whether they be the older type found in Saint Augustine or Bossuet, which tends to make of man the puppet of God, or the new type, which tends in all its varieties to make of man the puppet of nature. He offers a compelling critique of unchecked majoritarianism and addresses the great problem of how to discover leaders with standards.
392 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1924
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About the author
Irving Babbitt
46 books22 followersNew humanism movement of American scholar Irving Babbitt sought to revive interest in classical virtues in literary criticism.
Irving Babbitt, a noted academic, in his role from 1910 founded a known, significant influence on discussion and conservative thought in the period. He in the cultural tradition of Matthew Arnold consistently opposed romanticism, as the writings of Jean Jacques Rousseau represented. Politically, he without serious distortion followed Aristotle and Edmund Burke. He advocated and offered an ecumenical defense of religion. He implied a broad knowledge of various moral and religious traditions.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_B...
Irving Babbitt, a noted academic, in his role from 1910 founded a known, significant influence on discussion and conservative thought in the period. He in the cultural tradition of Matthew Arnold consistently opposed romanticism, as the writings of Jean Jacques Rousseau represented. Politically, he without serious distortion followed Aristotle and Edmund Burke. He advocated and offered an ecumenical defense of religion. He implied a broad knowledge of various moral and religious traditions.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irving_B...
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 14, 2009
Ought to be read by anyone who a) claims to be a conservative; b) wants to respond to conservatism at its most thoughtful; c) is interested in the relationship between freedom and democracy; or d) is not a Christian but has an interest in conservatism (Babbitt himself leans towards Buddhism).
Some of the best lines in the book:
"Unfortunately when the real refuses to vanish in favor of the ideal, it is easy to persuade the simpleminded that the failure is due not to the ideal itself, but to some conspiracy."
"When one starts with the supposition that men are naturally good and virtuous, one inevitably ends by wishing to kill them all." [That should probably be read in context...:]
"The attempt to combine freedom with equality led, and... always will lead, to terrorism."
"The last stage of sentimentalism is homicidal mania."
"Physical science is excellent in its own place, but when supreme moral issues are involved, it is... only a multiplying device."
"Christianity at its best has sought to make the rich man humble, whereas the inevitable effect of the Rousseauistic evangel is to make the poor man proud, and at the same time to make him feel that he is the victim of a conspiracy."
"A democracy, the realistic observer is forced to conclude, is likely to be idealistic in its feelings about itself, but imperialistic in its practice."
"The democratic contention that everybody should have a chance is excellent provided it mean that everybody is to have a chance to measure up to high standards."
"Physical science, excellent in its proper place, is, when exalted out of this place, the ugliest and most maleficent idol before which man has as yet consented to prostrate himself."
Some of the best lines in the book:
"Unfortunately when the real refuses to vanish in favor of the ideal, it is easy to persuade the simpleminded that the failure is due not to the ideal itself, but to some conspiracy."
"When one starts with the supposition that men are naturally good and virtuous, one inevitably ends by wishing to kill them all." [That should probably be read in context...:]
"The attempt to combine freedom with equality led, and... always will lead, to terrorism."
"The last stage of sentimentalism is homicidal mania."
"Physical science is excellent in its own place, but when supreme moral issues are involved, it is... only a multiplying device."
"Christianity at its best has sought to make the rich man humble, whereas the inevitable effect of the Rousseauistic evangel is to make the poor man proud, and at the same time to make him feel that he is the victim of a conspiracy."
"A democracy, the realistic observer is forced to conclude, is likely to be idealistic in its feelings about itself, but imperialistic in its practice."
"The democratic contention that everybody should have a chance is excellent provided it mean that everybody is to have a chance to measure up to high standards."
"Physical science, excellent in its proper place, is, when exalted out of this place, the ugliest and most maleficent idol before which man has as yet consented to prostrate himself."
July 25, 2021
“In the long run democracy will be judged… by the quality of its leaders, a quality that will depend in turn on the quality of their vision. Where there is no vision, we are told, the people perish; but where there is a sham vision, they perish even faster.”
“…the modern political movement may be regarded in its most significant aspect as a battle between the spirit of Rousseau and that of Burke.”“Men are governed by imagination” said Napoleon. Rousseau’s idyllic imagination vs. Burke’s moral imagination.
“…the modern political movement may be regarded in its most significant aspect as a battle between the spirit of Rousseau and that of Burke.”“Men are governed by imagination” said Napoleon. Rousseau’s idyllic imagination vs. Burke’s moral imagination.
June 25, 2024
I first got to know this book because of its attack on Rousseau, but I was rather impressed by its temperate wisdom and astonishing erudition.
Babbit’s criticism of Rousseau was, in fact, on naturalism, which believed that “misery...is the result of industry”. While Rousseau argued that the conflict was between individuals and society, he “[made] the poor man proud, and at the same time to [made] he feel that he is
the victim of a conspiracy.” In one of Babbit’s most serious accusations, beneath Rousseau’s doctrine of love was anger, hatred and class warfare. In addition, Rousseau, by putting the People above all else, advocated for a sovereign responsible to no one, while the King was at least controlled by God. Babbit also pointed out the striking utilitarian side of Rousseau.
As a Chinese, Babbit’s comments on Confucianism were particularly interesting to me. He argued that for its moderation and morality, Confucianism had much in common with Aristotelian tradition, even Christianity. For Confucius, the true leader is the man of character, and humility is the ultimate root of character. Babbit even argued that China’s emphasis on morality contributed to its long survival.
I am also curious about Babbit’s argument on work. “The only true freedom is freedom to work.” He believed that the quality of a man’s work determined his position in society, and thus, work justified aristocracy. In fact, liberty is primarily associated with work, for “a man should look for true liberty neither in society nor in nature, but in himself---his ethical self; and the ethical self is experienced, not as an expansive emotion, but as an inner control.”
Babbit’s criticism of Rousseau was, in fact, on naturalism, which believed that “misery...is the result of industry”. While Rousseau argued that the conflict was between individuals and society, he “[made] the poor man proud, and at the same time to [made] he feel that he is
the victim of a conspiracy.” In one of Babbit’s most serious accusations, beneath Rousseau’s doctrine of love was anger, hatred and class warfare. In addition, Rousseau, by putting the People above all else, advocated for a sovereign responsible to no one, while the King was at least controlled by God. Babbit also pointed out the striking utilitarian side of Rousseau.
As a Chinese, Babbit’s comments on Confucianism were particularly interesting to me. He argued that for its moderation and morality, Confucianism had much in common with Aristotelian tradition, even Christianity. For Confucius, the true leader is the man of character, and humility is the ultimate root of character. Babbit even argued that China’s emphasis on morality contributed to its long survival.
I am also curious about Babbit’s argument on work. “The only true freedom is freedom to work.” He believed that the quality of a man’s work determined his position in society, and thus, work justified aristocracy. In fact, liberty is primarily associated with work, for “a man should look for true liberty neither in society nor in nature, but in himself---his ethical self; and the ethical self is experienced, not as an expansive emotion, but as an inner control.”
April 14, 2019
Irving Babbitt was a calm voice of reason during the tumultuous 1960s, and deserves to be read today when the anarchy has spread to encompass every aspect of society. He warned us then that the lack of self-discipline in our libertarian society would lead to chaos, and it has. It seems ironic that psychology, that for so long served to justify the loosening of standards, has now begun to turn back. They have begun to tentatively embrace the notion that it is the lack of self-control and self-discipline that is keeping our children from achieving higher standards in school. They should have read Babbitt. He could have saved them time, and saved us the humiliation of failing schools, failing economy, and failing international relations.
September 9, 2013
good history.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews