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Patriotism Is Not Enough: Harry Jaffa, Walter Berns, and the Arguments that Redefined American Conservatism
This book is a lively intellectual history of a small circle of thinkers, especially, but not solely, Harry Jaffa and Walter Berns, who challenged the "mainstream" liberal consensus of political science and history about how the American Founding should be understood. Along the way they changed the course of the conservative movement and had a significant impact on shaping contemporary political debates from constitutional interpretation, civil rights, to the corruption of government today. Most importantly, these thinkers explain the deep reasons for patriotism—why we should love America not just because it is our country , but because it is a free and just country.
296 pages, Hardcover
Published February 21, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 20, 2017
Steve Hayward does a masterful job in explaining the theoretical and historical foundations of modern conservatism through a study of the life and teachings of two important teachers of political philosophy in the twentieth century, Harry Jaffa and Walter Berns. With the help of Jaffa and Berns--men of extraordinary intellectual firepower and scholastic rigor--Hayward examines such important and interesting topics as the American Founding, the statesmanship of Abraham Lincoln, constitutional interpretation, and the rise of the Progressives, which culminates in the biggest threat to constitutional government today: the administrative state. Though some readers may think Hayward hedges too much on whether Jaffa or Berns is ultimately superior (he was, after all, a student of Jaffa), his reticence on this question is a benefit of the book, because it allows the reader to come to his own conclusions rather than accept opinions from authority (a pedagogical method that is synonymous with the purpose of philosophy, or the quest for wisdom).
The book's most important purpose is to show that patriotism must be grounded in both reason and the passions--the mind and the heart. Though America is certainly based upon philosophical truths which are accessible to anyone with reason, America is also a nation made of up citizens who must be capable of a certain level of self-government. This is especially important today for both liberals and conservatives--the former who without a trace of irony ground patriotism upon such flimsy concepts as diversity and the latter who tend to think America is an idea simply.
One drawback in this otherwise fantastic book is that Hayward leans a bit too heavily on Leo Strauss's distinction between the ancients and moderns. His deprecations of Locke at the book's conclusion don't seem to square with the actual Locke, who grounded his philosophy upon a natural law basis and, consistent with the classics, taught that happiness was the end of political life. Another problem is that Hayward presents liberals today as relativists at best or nihilists at worst. But this doesn't seem to jibe with how liberals understand themselves. Though their rhetoric at times may have a non-foundationalist undercurrent, their actions in supporting such political causes as gay marriage and equal pay suggest they do hold certain ideas or causes to be absolute truths and that any violations of these truths deserve swift moral rebuke.
Nevertheless, Hayward has written a important volume that should be on the bookshelf of every patriotic American.
The book's most important purpose is to show that patriotism must be grounded in both reason and the passions--the mind and the heart. Though America is certainly based upon philosophical truths which are accessible to anyone with reason, America is also a nation made of up citizens who must be capable of a certain level of self-government. This is especially important today for both liberals and conservatives--the former who without a trace of irony ground patriotism upon such flimsy concepts as diversity and the latter who tend to think America is an idea simply.
One drawback in this otherwise fantastic book is that Hayward leans a bit too heavily on Leo Strauss's distinction between the ancients and moderns. His deprecations of Locke at the book's conclusion don't seem to square with the actual Locke, who grounded his philosophy upon a natural law basis and, consistent with the classics, taught that happiness was the end of political life. Another problem is that Hayward presents liberals today as relativists at best or nihilists at worst. But this doesn't seem to jibe with how liberals understand themselves. Though their rhetoric at times may have a non-foundationalist undercurrent, their actions in supporting such political causes as gay marriage and equal pay suggest they do hold certain ideas or causes to be absolute truths and that any violations of these truths deserve swift moral rebuke.
Nevertheless, Hayward has written a important volume that should be on the bookshelf of every patriotic American.
September 1, 2022
Early in 2021, I spoke to a public school administrator from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and expressed my concern that the federal government- acting through executive action and the administrative state- was inflating the currency, opening our borders, and expropriating property. To which, she responded, "How many Trump signs are in your yard?" A seemingly humorous non-sequitur. However, to paraphrase the philosopher Leo Strauss, she does not know that she fiddles, and she does not know that Rome burns.
Steven Hayward's examination of Harry Jaffa and Walter Berns in "Patriotism is not Enough," should have a palliative effect on such shallow thinking. Hayward elucidates both Jaffa and Berns's teachings on statesmanship, patriotism, and equality, and highlights the dilemma of the "Philosopher in the City." This is a compelling work.
Hayward's most profound argument is found in the chapter "Equality as a Principle and a Problem." In the chapter, Hayward masterfully notes that both scholars use Jefferson and Lincoln to express their concern that "equality" might be employed to justify every
state action.
To this end, the author quotes one of America's least known political philosophers, Willmoore Kendall to consider the expansion of the Equality Clause to fear:
" A future made up of an endless series of Abraham Lincolns, each persuaded that he is superior in wisdom and virtue to the Fathers... and the Ceasarism we all need to fear is the contemporary Liberal movement, dedicated like Lincoln to reforms sanctioned by mandates, emanating from (marginal) national majorities."
My reflexive Liberal, educrat friend in Cheyenne has no answer. She says, "America is flawed, the world will end in 2030-per A.O.C.-and the populace is stupid." Hayward's work is a corrective; unfortunately, few will read it.
Steven Hayward's examination of Harry Jaffa and Walter Berns in "Patriotism is not Enough," should have a palliative effect on such shallow thinking. Hayward elucidates both Jaffa and Berns's teachings on statesmanship, patriotism, and equality, and highlights the dilemma of the "Philosopher in the City." This is a compelling work.
Hayward's most profound argument is found in the chapter "Equality as a Principle and a Problem." In the chapter, Hayward masterfully notes that both scholars use Jefferson and Lincoln to express their concern that "equality" might be employed to justify every
state action.
To this end, the author quotes one of America's least known political philosophers, Willmoore Kendall to consider the expansion of the Equality Clause to fear:
" A future made up of an endless series of Abraham Lincolns, each persuaded that he is superior in wisdom and virtue to the Fathers... and the Ceasarism we all need to fear is the contemporary Liberal movement, dedicated like Lincoln to reforms sanctioned by mandates, emanating from (marginal) national majorities."
My reflexive Liberal, educrat friend in Cheyenne has no answer. She says, "America is flawed, the world will end in 2030-per A.O.C.-and the populace is stupid." Hayward's work is a corrective; unfortunately, few will read it.
May 20, 2017
I had never heard of the author and didn't expect to read this entire book, but I recognized the name "Harry Jaffa" and I had some time on the road. This turned out to be a very intriguing book. If you like political philosophy and are interested in conservative thinking, you'll probably enjoy this book. I'll now be looking for more by Steven Hayward.
September 3, 2019
Engaging, witty, and overall a solid survey of conservative thought with a helpful normative edge for where the movement needs to go if it is to survive.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews