Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.

A man whom I respected died a few days ago, on February 28, 2007.  In 1949, Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., published his book,  “The Vital Center: The Politics of Freedom.” In it he argued that pragmatic, reform-minded liberalism, limited in scope, was the best that man could hope for politically.  He explained --

Problems will always torment us because all important problems are insoluble: that is why they are important. The good comes from the continuing struggle to try and solve them, not from the vain hope of their solution.

Much more recently he defended Western culture by arguing that the concepts of freedom of expression, religion, human rights, liberty and democracy are distinctively Western values.   He wrote --

These are European ideas, not Asian, nor African, nor Middle-Eastern ideas, except by adoption. There is surely no reason for Western civilization to have guilt trips laid on it by champions of cultures based on despotism, superstition, tribalism, and fanaticism.

Well, I think that not be entirely true, but Schlesinger has here offered a useful reminder of the blessings of Western civilization and of the limitations of many other cultures. 

Comments

[Laura Tyler]

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Laura

[am]

Schlesinger's book from 1949 sounds like one I would like to read, although I question elements of his later statement because all cultures, religions and spiritual traditions have limitations. We can all learn from each other.

Thomas Merton was a pioneer in that he was acquainted with the limitations of Catholicism and helped bring about about a useful dialogue between diverse spiritual traditions, a dialogue that continues today and enriches all traditions. No one need apologize for the limitations of their traditions or devalue other traditions.

Martin Buber, too, believed in the power of respectful dialogue between traditions.

A Tibetan Buddhist said, when I asked if Tibetan Buddhists had a concept of God, that their view was that there was no God and no not-God. That was helpful to me and opened up my understanding of God as I understand God.

Thanks for your thought-provoking post!