![]() Mahoney develops his argument through sketches of seven "magnanimous statesmen." It will come as no surprise that George Washington, Lincoln, and Winston Churchill all feature in this pantheon. ![]() Statesmanship requires not just greatness, which can lead to tyranny, but "the full range of intellectual and moral virtues" found in Christianity and classical philosophy. The book begins with an introductory essay on "Statesmanship as Human Excellence." In it, Mahoney argues that the true statesman is committed to political liberty and sees himself as the guardian of a political community. Hardly a narrative of decline, The Statesman as Thinker is a reminder of what men can achieve. By tracing the practical mix of classical and Christian virtues that made history's greatest men, Mahoney shows how statesmanlike greatness is still attainable today. Mahoney, professor emeritus of political science at Assumption University and a senior fellow at the RealClear Foundation, blends biography and political philosophy to explain precisely what makes great leaders great.įortunately, Mahoney does not use his subjects to create an unattainable standard for today's leaders-far from it. In The Statesman as Thinker: Portraits of Greatness, Courage, and Moderation, Daniel J. Because even controlling for Lincoln-level leaders, looking back reminds us that contemporary denizens of Washington, D.C., lack both the intellectual heft and practical wisdom of their predecessors. On the other hand, there's something illustrative about these comparisons. After all, everyone looks underwhelming next to Abraham Lincoln-just ask Stephen A. On the one hand, our tendency to remember only great leaders can make such comparisons useless. When it comes to politics, historical comparisons aren't always fair.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |