The literary critic George Steiner, in a wonderful little book titled Nostalgia for the Absolute,” long ago predicted this moment. We have an attraction, he contended, to higher truths that can sweep away complexity and nuance. We like systems that can explain everything. Intellectuals in the West are nostalgic for the tight grip religion once held on the Western imagination. They are attracted to modes of thought that are as comprehensive and authoritarian as the medieval church. You and your fellow students -- and your professors as well; one mustn’t forget their role -- are therefore to be congratulated for your involvement in the excellent work of bringing back the Middle Ages. A commencement address from Stephen L. Carter. WARNING: It may prove toxic to those on a low-irony diet.
Posted on: Sat, 17 May 2014 11:47:12 +0000
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