Recovering Politics, Civilization, and the Soul - Essays on Pierre Manent and Roger Scruton

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The Western inheritance faces intense theoretical and practical challenges, with legitimate self-criticism devolving into nihilistic self-loathing and widespread cultural, moral, and political repudiation. However, Daniel J. Mahoney presents a compelling collection of essays that highlight the insights of two contemporary thinkers, Roger Scruton and Pierre Manent, who offer pathways for renewing politics, practical reason, and our civilized legacy. Both philosophers reject the nihilism linked to the “thought of 1968” and advocate for gratitude as a response to the “givenness of things.” They defend the self-governing nation against both reckless nationalism and the dangers of supranational governance and post-political democracy, which Manent describes as a “kratos” without a “demos.” While supporting a secular state, they critique radical secularism that dismisses the Christian essence of our heritage, which fosters the vital connection between truth and liberty. Scruton’s cultural perspective draws from Burke and Kant, whereas Manent’s political viewpoint is influenced by Aristotle, St. Thomas, Tocqueville, and Raymond Aron. By examining their similarities and instructive differences, Mahoney illustrates how Scruton and Manent can guide us toward a revitalized horizon of thought and action rooted in practical reason and the human soul, urging us to reject repudiation and embrace a more hopeful future.