Politically Incorrect Guide to Western Civilization
Western civilization is under attack. At universities and in the media, professors and pundits decry Western civilization as exploitative, destructive, and without value. But fear not: coming to its defense is Professor Anthony Esolen's the Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Western Civilization. This "P.I.G." will knock down the relativist arguments and show how the West laid the cornerstones for all of modern civilization, including historical, artistic, and intellectual achievements. Using...
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Western civilization is under attack. At universities and in the media, professors and pundits decry Western civilization as exploitative, destructive, and without value. But fear not: coming to its defense is Professor Anthony Esolen's the Politically Incorrect Guide™ to Western Civilization. This "P.I.G." will knock down the relativist arguments and show how the West laid the cornerstones for all of modern civilization, including historical, artistic, and intellectual achievements. Using historical evidence and compelling arguments, Esolen proves why we not only owe it to history, but also to ourselves to set the record straight and respectfully acknowledge Western civilization's vital role in shaping our values and our world.
Preface xiAncient Greece: Love of Wisdom and Beauty 1Laws that cannot be amendedAthens: Better than the restFather, not motherThe Greek Isles effectTradition and the natural lawAthenian relativistsBeauty is not merely in the eye of the beholderThe universal GoodThe State and the end of manRome: An Empire of Tradition and Patriarchy 39Respecting your eldersFather knows bestTradition's wisdom vs. democracy's ficklenessPeace through strengthThe real reason Rome fellIsrael: How God Changed the World 67A God above nature, not a nature godNot a political god, but the King of kingsKnowing God yields scienceThey that humble themselves shall be exaltedA thousand years are as a dayJesus of Nazareth, King of the JewsThe peace of God that passeth understandingThe Early Church: Charity and Tolerance Are Born 97How Christianity saved the WestChristianity brings equality and toleranceThe State, that pagan godHow Christians elevated cultureThe truth about hereticsThe Good News brings charityThe High Middle Ages: The Bright Ages 131Islam vs. civilizationWarmer is better-someone tell Al GoreRuggedly aliveThe Bright Ages: Life in the cathedralsDrama's rebirth: Another fruit of ChristianityPC myth: The Middle Ages were the Dark AgesWhen love and nature were richerPC trope: Dancing angels and pinheadsBefore PC: When intellectual curiosity could thriveThe Renaissance: It'sNot What You Think 167The PC myths about the RenaissanceIs there a nature in this man?Honoring the pastShakespeare on his kneesWhere the Renaissance went wrong: Undermining authorityThe Enlightenment: Liberty and Tyranny 203The will enslaved"Enlightenment" yields tyrannyEcrasez l'infame!The Pilgrim FathersConservative Founders?America's forgotten models: Rome and AthensSaving reason from itselfRousseau and the StateSamuel JohnsonThe Nineteenth Century: Man Is a God; Man Is a Beast 243The Romantics' new religion: NatureWorshipping manWhat the Industrial Revolution wroughtIs there such a thing as bad art?Nietzsche: The honest atheistConservative champions of human dignityThe Twentieth Century: A Century of Blood 281Walter Mitty, rugged individualThe empire strikes backThe health of the State, the poverty of the soulArt from the people; Art against the peopleScience without knowledgeThe Pill's bitter effectsHistory can restore usNotes 311Index 329
