In 1987 the American philosopher Allan David Bloom published his controversial book "The Closing of the American Mind," in which he critiziced contemporary trends in American academia as well as in the popular culture. The author was particularly critical of concepts like historicism and moral and cultural relativism. The book was largely perceived to be a conservative tract, although Bloom himself rejected the label 'conservative'. While liberal commentators were skecptical of Bloom's theses, conservative intellectuals by and large praised the book. The conflict laid bare here was—and is—a battle between political forces for cultural sovereignty, especially in the universities, the commanding heights of American intellectual life. This conflict was well captured in Camille Paglia's famous description of "The Closing of the American Mind" as the ''first shot in the culture wars''.
The purpose of this paper is to inquire into the American Right's reception and reconstruction of "The Closing of the American Mind" and to determine the initial impact and lasting influence the book had on American conservative thought. In order to provide a comprehensive analysis, eminent conservative publications as well as the writings of notable conservative intellectuals will be examined. Different responses from different factions of the conservative coalition shall be differentiated and taken into account, as will the changing perception of Bloom's ideas over time. Therefore this paper is divided into different sections, one of which will cover the time immediately after the publication of The Closing and another the time between the initial response and the present. These two parts are complemented by another two sections which will examine the history of American conservatism from 1945 up to the respective points in time and thereby provide the necessary context.
Table of Contents
Introduction
I. American Conservatism from the End of the Second World War to 1987
II. The American Right's Reception of The Closing of the American Mind upon Publication
III. American Conservatism from 1987 until Today
IV. The American Right's Reception of The Closing of the American Mind until Today
V. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This thesis examines the reception and reconstruction of Allan Bloom's 1987 book, The Closing of the American Mind, within the American conservative movement. It explores how various conservative intellectuals and publications initially perceived the work, how these interpretations evolved over time, and the extent to which Bloom’s critique of contemporary higher education and culture became integrated into the conservative intellectual arsenal.
- The historical development of post-1945 American conservatism.
- The initial intellectual and political reactions of the American Right to Bloom’s work upon its 1987 publication.
- The long-term impact of Bloom’s ideas on conservative discourse regarding academia, culture, and relativism.
- The shifting perceptions of Bloom from a perceived independent thinker to a cornerstone of conservative cultural critique.
- The intersection of intellectual conservatism with grassroots movements, such as the Tea Party.
Excerpt from the Book
II. The American Right's Reception of The Closing of the American Mind upon Publication
According to Werner J. Dannhauser, a friend and former colleague of Bloom's at Chicago, the unanticipated success of The Closing depended significantly on the "unusually favorable early reviews" of the book. Initial reviews by conservatives were particularly fortunate for the book's commercial trajectory, as indeed was the fact that The Conservative Book Club went on to make it one of its main selections. Dannhauser himself—like Bloom one of Leo Strauss's "most ardent pupils" and therefore at least to some extent part of the neoconservative orbit—was unambiguous in his characterization of his friend as "an honorable man of the right," adding that "that is my description of Bloom, not his own".
Roger Kimball, current editor of The New Criterion and president of the conservative publishing house Encounter Books, in the New York Times Book Review showered praise onto Bloom's disquisition as being "essential reading for anyone concerned with the state of liberal education in this society. Its pathos, erudition and penetrating insight make it an unparalleled reflection on the whole question of what it means to be a student in today's intellectual and moral climate. . . . [The Closing] is that rarest of documents, a genuinely profound book". However, Kimball did not place the book into overtly political categories. In fact, he praised Bloom for contributing something to the perceived problems of contemporary liberal education that conservatives failed to grasp: "[Bloom] has read Nietzsche, and his discussion betrays none of the naivete that many conservative treatments of such matters display."
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter introduces Allan Bloom and his book, establishing the academic and cultural context of 1987 while framing the university as the primary site of Bloom's concerns regarding the state of the American mind.
I. American Conservatism from the End of the Second World War to 1987: This section provides a historical overview of the evolution of the American Right, tracing its development from fragmented post-war origins to the electoral and intellectual successes of the Reagan era.
II. The American Right's Reception of The Closing of the American Mind upon Publication: This chapter details the immediate, predominantly favorable reaction from conservative intellectuals and publications, who saw in Bloom an ally in their cultural critique.
III. American Conservatism from 1987 until Today: This chapter analyzes the trajectory of American conservatism following the Reagan administration, covering the rise of the Christian Right, the impact of the Clinton and Bush years, and the emergence of the Tea Party.
IV. The American Right's Reception of The Closing of the American Mind until Today: This section examines how conservative engagement with Bloom's work persisted through subsequent decades, noting how his critique was re-contextualized during later anniversaries of the book.
V. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, arguing that while Bloom remained an independent thinker, his work ultimately served as a vital intellectual resource for the American Right in its ongoing culture wars.
Keywords
Allan Bloom, The Closing of the American Mind, American Conservatism, Neoconservatism, Higher Education, Cultural Wars, Relativism, 1960s, Intellectual History, Reagan Era, Roger Kimball, Cultural Criticism, Right-Wing Intelligentsia.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The work investigates the reception and utilization of Allan Bloom’s 1987 book, The Closing of the American Mind, by the American conservative intellectual movement.
What are the central themes discussed?
The thesis focuses on the history of American conservatism, the role of intellectuals in political movements, the debate over moral and cultural relativism, and the perceived decline of liberal arts education.
What is the central research question?
It seeks to determine the initial impact and lasting influence of Bloom’s work on American conservative thought and how conservatives reconstructed his ideas to fit their political and cultural agendas.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The research relies on historical and intellectual analysis, examining primary sources such as contemporary book reviews, essays in conservative journals, and academic responses to Bloom's work.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the historical context of the American Right since 1945, the immediate and long-term reception of Bloom's book by conservative figures, and the evolution of the conservative movement through the post-Reagan era.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
The key themes are American conservatism, Allan Bloom, intellectual history, the cultural wars, and the debate surrounding the university system.
Why did conservatives embrace Bloom despite his resistance to the "conservative" label?
Conservatives valued Bloom’s scathing critique of the 1960s, his attack on moral relativism, and his reverence for Western "intellectual patrimony," which aligned with their own goal of opposing progressive cultural tendencies.
How did conservative opinion of the book evolve from 1987 to the present?
Initial reactions were optimistic about potential academic reform, but over time, as the perceived cultural decline deepened, the book transitioned from a contemporary debate piece into a foundational monument of conservative thought.
- Citar trabajo
- Moritz Mücke (Autor), 2014, Sharpening the Conservative Mind. The American Right's Reception and Reconstruction of Allan Bloom's "The Closing of the American Mind", Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/273737
