At the Center: American Thought and Culture in the Mid-Twentieth Century

During the Cold War, thinkers and artists sought to define the essential character of "American culture" and establish moral standards to guide human conduct. They explored the idea of a stable self and the use of scientific method to uncover truth. Some sought a center, while others rejected it, asserting that freedom lay in the dispersion of cultural energies and the plurality of American experiences. At the Center offers a unique perspective on the United States at the pinnacle of its power.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 358 pages
Publication date: 10 May 2021
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

When American political and cultural figures proclaimed that the country was at the "center of world awareness," thinkers and artists set out to comprehend and safeguard the fundamental principles that held everything together. They posed questions such as: What exactly defined the core essence of "American culture"? Could enduring moral principles steer human behavior amidst the turmoil and horrors of history? How did a stable self emerge throughout the life cycle? Could the scientific method rescue truth from falsehood, illusion, and myth? Are there fundamental components to democracy, societal integrity, and global order? The answers to these questions held the promise of intellectual and moral stability in a time plagued by the memories of world war and the potential for even greater devastation in the future. However, other influential figures rejected the quest for a center, arguing that freedom resided in the dispersion of cultural energies and the diversity of American experiences.

At the Center provides a distinctive perspective on the United States at the height of its power, delving into the era's centering impulse.

Weight: 485g
Dimension: 218 x 154 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538158432