Political Philosophy and Cultural Renewal: Collected Essays [Hardcover]

Francis Graham Wilson (Author), H. Lee Cheek Jr. (Editor), Kathy B. Cheek (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0765800454 | ISBN-13: 978-0765800459 | Publication Date: May 2001

"Wilson measured up to his own exacting standards of what the conservative spirit should be. He shouldered a great responsibility with elan and moved beyond the defensive, reaching out boldly to blend the fading past and the emerging future into an imaginative present. With this rich sampling of Wilson's work, the editors have measured up to that standard as well."--Intercollegiate Review

Francis Graham Wilson was a central figure in the revival of interest in political philosophy and American political thought in the mid-twentieth century. While he is best known as a Catholic writer and conservative theorist, his most significant contribution is his original interpretation of the development of American politics. Central to his thought was a process of self-interpretation by the citienry, a quest for ultimate meaning turning to a divine, transcendent, basis of history and shared experience. Although Wilson's writings were extensive and influential, they have not been readily available for decades. Political Philosophy and Cultural Renewal brings together a coherent and representative selection of his work, highlighting his concern for the common good and his belief in personal and societal restraint as an alternative to political partisanship and superficiality.

Wilson's affirmation of a republican inheritance encourages contemporary students of politics to revisit the Founders' views of diffused political authority. His remarkable contribution to American political philosophy is a full-fledged theory of cultural renewal that has lost none of its relevance for contemporary political and social issues. This volume will be of interest to historians, political scientists, and American studies specialists.

H. Lee Cheek, Jr. is Chair of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Division and Professor of Political Science and Philosophy at Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Georgia. His work has appeared in the Journal of Politics, International Social Science Review, and Methodist History. His other books include Calhoun and Popular Rule, Calhoun: Selected Writings and Speeches, and Political Philosophy and Cultural Renewal. M. Susan Power is Professor of Political Science at Arkansas State University. Her books include Before the Convention: Religion and the Founders and Jacques Maritain. Kathy B. Cheek is a choreographer and teacher of dance.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This collection also provides an illuminating window into the discipline of political science in mid-nineteenth America." -- Joseph R. Fornieri, The University of Bookman

"It has been argued, perhaps most notably by George Nash, that American conservatism as a intellectual movement became articulate only after World War II It is noteworthy that Russell Kirk's The Conservative Mind was not published until 1953. It would be mistaken, however, to deny the existence of important American conservative voices during the mid-nineteenth century. As proof of this, editors Lee Cheek Jr., M. Susan Power, and Kathy B. Cheek have done a great service in compiling representative essays from the American political scientist Francis Graham Wilson (1901-1976). In addition excellent introduction that guides the reader through Wilson's life and legacy. The essays span a wide range human nature, organic theory, conservatism, Cicero's de officiis and the American political mind."
-- Joseph R. Fornieri The University Bookman

About the Author

Francis Graham Wilson (1901-1976) was professor of political science at numerous universities, including Stanford University, University of Washington, University of Illinois, and Long Island University. He is best known for establishing a historical theory of public opinion as distinct from the methodology. He is the author of numerous articles and books on public opinion, including American Political Mind, Order and Legitimacy: Political Thought in National Spain, and The Case for Conservatism.

H. Lee Cheek, Jr. is associate vice president for academic affairs and professor of political science at Athens State University. He is the author or editor of numerous works, including Order and Legitimacy, Political Philosophy and Cultural Renewal, Calhoun and Popular Rule, and Confronting Modernity.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 263 pages
• Publisher: Transaction Publishers (May 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765800454
• ISBN-13: 978-0765800459
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,573,906 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)