This is a story about a dangerous idea-that all men are created equal-which ignited revolutions in America, France and Haiti; burst across Europe in the revolutions of 1848; and returned to inflame a new generation of intellectuals to lead the abolition movement. Frederick Douglass's unusual interest in radical German philosophers and Abraham Lincoln's odd, buried allusions to the same rationalist, secularist, and essentially atheist thinkers are but a few of the clues that underlie this propulsive philosophical detective story. With fresh takes on forgotten thinkers like Theodore Parker (a minister too radical even for the Unitarians, whose work provided some of Lincoln's most famous lines) and a feisty band of German refugees, Matthew Stewart's vivid storytelling and piercing insights forge a significant revision in our understanding of the origins and meaning of the struggle over slavery in America-and offer a fresh perspective on struggles between democracy and elite power today.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
"Enthralling, illuminating, and timely. A beautifully written, myth-busting, and eye-opening uncovering of the radical, humanistic roots of America' best impulses towards justice and equality. A must read for anyone who wants to fully understand not only the abolitionist movement and the nation's struggle over slavery, but also America's on-going conflicts related to religion, nationalism, theology, and democracy. By delving into the lives and Enlightenment thinking of Frederick Douglass, Theodore Parker, Abraham Lincoln, and Ottilie Assing, Matthew Stewart shines a much-needed light on some of the most compelling-and yet under-appreciated-emancipatory values that flow through our history and society." -- Phil Zuckerman, author of Beyond Doubt: The Secularization of Society
Sprache
Verlagsort
Maße
Höhe: 234 mm
Breite: 158 mm
Dicke: 34 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-1-324-00362-5 (9781324003625)
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Schweitzer Klassifikation
Matthew Stewart is an independent philosopher and historian who has written extensively about the philosophical origins of the American republic. His work has appeared in?The Atlantic,?The?Washington Post,?The Wall Street Journal, and more. He is currently based in London.
