In my earliest days as a graduate student in political philosophy, my colleagues and I would spend endless hours debating the intricacies and nuances of the various philosophies we were studying, invariably culminating in that most subtle and sophisticated of all questions: “Who’s better—ancients or moderns?” Now in this highly refined intellectual contest—conducted with all … Read more
The revitalization of our federal system of government promises to be one of the enduring legacies of the administration of Ronald Reagan. Certainly it has been an essential ingredient in its electoral success. Ronald Reagan has understood the essence of federalism in a way that few other conservative public figures have in recent decades. Until … Read more
The Schizophrenic Soul of American Liberalism A war is being waged today for the soul of American liberalism—a war that will be won by the side that manages to incorporate its peculiar understanding of “community” into liberal doctrine. The two antagonists in this struggle might be described as “national community” liberalism and “small community” liberalism. … Read more
“America is one, indivisible community,” Walter Mondale asserted as he introduced Geraldine Ferraro to the nation. “We believe we must be the family of America, recognizing that at the heart of the matter we are bound to one another,” added Gov. Mario Cuomo of New York in his stirring keynote address at the Democratic convention. … Read more
The vision of national community — the progressive/New Deal concept of the nation as small town or family — held sway over American politics for many years after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s election in 1932. This changed dramatically in the course of the 60s and 70s, however. The central themes of the turbulence and unrest of … Read more
This essay was originally prepared for the American Enterprise Institute’s Public Policy Week 1983. The second part of his essay will appear in a subsequent issue of Catholicism in Crisis. America is in search of a new public philosophy. The New Deal public philosophy apparently died some time ago, and now we must find one to … Read more