Irving Babbitt | |
|---|---|
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| Born | (1865-08-02)August 2, 1865 Dayton, Ohio |
| Died | July 15, 1933(1933-07-15) (aged 67) Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Education | Harvard College |
| Occupation(s) | Academic, literary critic |
| Spouse |
Dora May Drew (m. 1900) |
| Children | 2 |
Irving Babbitt (August 2, 1865 – July 15, 1933) was an American academic and literary critic, noted for his founding role in a movement that became known as the New Humanism, a significant influence on literary discussion and conservative thought in the period between 1910 and 1930. He was a cultural critic in the tradition of Matthew Arnold and a consistent opponent of romanticism, as represented by the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Politically he can, without serious distortion, be called a follower of Aristotle and Edmund Burke. He was an advocate of classical humanism but also offered an ecumenical defense of religion. His humanism implied a broad knowledge of various moral and religious traditions. His book Democracy and Leadership (1924) is regarded as a classic text of political conservatism. Babbitt is regarded as a major influence over American cultural and political conservatism.[1]
- ^ Robert Muccigrosso, ed., Research Guide to American Historical Biography (1988) 1:80- 85