The Historical Mind

**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.