A History of American Thought 1860-2000: Thinking the Modern

This book provides a comprehensive overview of modern American thought, examining the destabilizing effects of modern challenges to fixed order and absolute truths and the contradictory consequences for philosophical, political, social, and aesthetic thought. It covers topics such as evolutionary thought, philosophical Pragmatism, ideas of race and gender, pluralism and cultural relativism, Cold War Liberalism, science and religion, feminist thought, evolutionary psychology, and the late twentieth-century Culture Wars. It is an ideal resource for a general audience and undergraduate and graduate students in American intellectual history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 314 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of the evolution of modern American thought, spanning from the publication of Charles Darwin's Origin of Species in the United States in 1860 to the close of the twentieth century. Its central focus lies in examining the destabilizing impact of contemporary challenges to fixed notions of order and absolute truths, as well as the contradictory consequences these challenges have had on philosophical, political, social, and aesthetic thought.

The intellectual response to the unprecedented changes of this era gave rise to a range of visions, encompassing both the liberation from the hierarchies of the past and the emergence of new forms of control and constraint. One of the central contradictions in modern thought revolved around the juxtaposition of biological and cultural perspectives on social, psychological, and moral order. This book is the first to provide an interpretive framework that encompasses the entire period under examination.

Topics covered in this volume include evolutionary thought, philosophical Pragmatism, ideas of race and gender, pluralism and cultural relativism, Cold War Liberalism, science and religion, feminist thought, evolutionary psychology, and the late twentieth-century Culture Wars. Thought leaders such as William James, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Judith Butler, and Cornel West are analyzed as historical figures, shedding light on their contributions to the development of American intellectual thought.

This book is an invaluable resource for a broad audience, including students and scholars interested in American intellectual history. Its comprehensive coverage and insightful analysis make it an essential tool for understanding the complex and evolving landscape of modern American thought.

Weight: 600g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367633110