Uniting the Divided: How the American Enlightenment and the European Enlightenment Can Help Heal Our Nation

Michael J Whidden: I scribbled comments throughout the margins of "American Schism" by Seth David Radwell when I read it. Quite often disagreeing or noting a missed idea...but just as often writing "YES!" with multiple underlines.⁣
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There are a lot of commentators -- on the left and the right -- who loudly whipsaw from one issue to another and stake out one inflexible position after another, adding nothing to public discourse but division.⁣
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Mr. Radwell does NOT do that. American Schism is audacious. It analyzes the various strands of America's bold and inspiring intellectual heritage and connects it to the seeming breakdown of our current politics. I applaud Seth for diving into Locke and Rouseau and Hobbes and Voltaire and Diderot and Condorcet and so many others. And I appreciate his opinions on how America has gone astray. I disagree with a number of his suggestions, not necessarily because they're wrong, though, but because they are not expansive enough to address what I consider egregious shortcomings on the left, where we both reside politically.⁣
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If you want to interpret current events within the broader American narrative...if you want to dive into the...

United States on Mar 16, 2023

David FRANCOIS: J'ai trouvé ce livre grâce à un américain et je suis très content de l'avoir lu . Il donne une perspective édifiant de la situation politique aux EU

France on Apr 04, 2022

Leitor: Love this book, it’s not only about the US. One from any democratic western Country can relate to it.

Brazil on Dec 19, 2021

Harold DeRienzo: Book Review
Harold DeRienzo

American Schism by Seth David Radwell
Greenleaf Book Group Press (2021)

American Schism is a timely, enjoyable and well-written book. For the reader seeking an historical review of the founding principles of this nation, it provides a condensed, yet comprehensive, overview. The basic thesis of the book, however, is problematic in a way that mirrors the democratic dilemmas of our current time.

The author looks to the philosophical tensions inherent in our founding as forming a primary basis for the problems we experience today. The tension is framed as emanating from adherents of “Moderate Enlightenment” in contrast to the founding adherents of “Radical Enlightenment.” Under the latter, there is an inherent suspicion and fear of centralized authority, which militates towards a decentralized system of ground up democracy. The advocates of this radical enlightenment are represented by the views of Franklin, Jefferson and Paine. They believed that government must operate by the active consent of the governed and that this is attainable with an educated and informed citizenry. Under the former, there is an inherent...

United States on Nov 24, 2021

Fredrik H: Superbly written, American Schism is probably one of the most important posts to the debate in recent years. Seth delivers an intellectually inspiring and fresh perspective to the ongoing US polarisation. Arguments are based on the Enlightenment's ideas and the pursuit of a better society but remain very sensitive to today's social and political diversity. This informedly written book is impressively accessible and delightful to read - I can highly recommend it.

United Kingdom on Aug 09, 2021

DL OConnell: In his book American Schism, Seth David Radwell argues that the two camps of Enlightenment thinking (Moderate and Radical and Enlightenment), and reactionary or counter-enlightenment thinking are the basis of our current modern political divisions and provides commentary on historical and current political debates through the lens of these 3 philosophies.

The Moderate Enlightenment philosophy asserted that the state should be tolerant of other religions but still promote a single religion as part of national identity, have a government with checks and balances, and only allow certain citizens to vote. Moderate Enlightenment thinkers include John Locke, a British philosopher, who argued that the goal of the state should be to protect individual and property rights. Montesquieu, a French philosopher, and scholar argued the division of governing powers between courts and different branches of government as well as local and state government. And Jean Jacques Rousseau, a French philosopher, advocated for political equality for all groups but was critical of pure democracy. Moderate Enlightenment thinkers in America include Alexander Hamilton, George Wasghtion, and John Adams,...

United States on Aug 05, 2021