Irving Babbitt

Irving Babbitt was an American literary critic, philosopher, and academic who taught at Harvard University and was a prominent figure in the New Humanism movement. He was influenced by the works of Matthew Arnold, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Friedrich Nietzsche, and his ideas were also shaped by his interactions with Paul Elmer More and T.S. Eliot. Babbitt's philosophical views were rooted in his study of Classics at Harvard University, where he was exposed to the works of Aristotle, Plato, and Cicero. His intellectual pursuits also led him to engage with the ideas of Immanuel Kant, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, and Arthur Schopenhauer.

● Early Life and Education

Babbitt was born in Dayton, Ohio, and grew up in a family that valued education and literature. He attended Harvard University, where he studied Classics under the guidance of Charles Eliot Norton and William Watson Goodwin. During his time at Harvard University, Babbitt was also influenced by the ideas of William James and Josiah Royce, and he developed a strong interest in philosophy and literary criticism. After completing his undergraduate degree, Babbitt traveled to Europe, where he studied at the University of Paris and engaged with the works of Victor Hugo, Gustave Flaubert, and Charles Baudelaire.

● Career and Influences

Babbitt's academic career was marked by his appointment as a professor of comparative literature at Harvard University, where he taught courses on Classics, literary criticism, and philosophy. He was influenced by the ideas of Matthew Arnold, who emphasized the importance of culture and tradition in shaping individual character. Babbitt's interactions with Paul Elmer More and T.S. Eliot also played a significant role in shaping his intellectual views, and he was drawn to the works of Dante Alighieri, William Shakespeare, and John Milton. Additionally, Babbitt's study of Eastern philosophy, particularly the ideas of Confucius and Buddha, broadened his intellectual horizons and influenced his thoughts on humanism and morality.

● Literary Criticism and Philosophy

Babbitt's literary criticism was characterized by his emphasis on the importance of tradition and classical models in shaping literary taste and style. He was critical of romanticism and its emphasis on emotion and individualism, and instead advocated for a more classical approach to literature, as seen in the works of Alexander Pope and Jonathan Swift. Babbitt's philosophical views were also influenced by his study of Aristotle and Plato, and he developed a strong interest in ethics and morality, engaging with the ideas of Immanuel Kant and John Stuart Mill. His intellectual pursuits also led him to engage with the works of Friedrich Nietzsche, Søren Kierkegaard, and Martin Heidegger.

● New Humanism

Babbitt was a leading figure in the New Humanism movement, which emphasized the importance of classical education and traditional values in shaping individual character. He was joined in this movement by other prominent intellectuals, including Paul Elmer More and Norman Foerster, and together they advocated for a return to classical models of education and literary criticism. The New Humanism movement was also influenced by the ideas of T.S. Eliot, who emphasized the importance of tradition and orthodoxy in shaping literary and cultural values. Babbitt's interactions with Eliot and other prominent intellectuals, such as Ezra Pound and James Joyce, further shaped his thoughts on humanism and culture.

● Legacy and Criticism

Babbitt's legacy as a literary critic and philosopher has been subject to both praise and criticism. Some have praised his emphasis on tradition and classical models, while others have criticized his rejection of romanticism and modernism. Babbitt's ideas have also been influential in shaping the thought of later intellectuals, including Allan Bloom and Harvey Mansfield, who have continued to advocate for a classical approach to education and literary criticism. Additionally, Babbitt's work has been engaged with by scholars such as Leo Strauss and Hannah Arendt, who have critically evaluated his ideas on humanism and politics.

● Major Works

Babbitt's major works include Literature and the American College and Democracy and Leadership, which outline his views on education, literary criticism, and politics. His other notable works include The New Laokoon and On Being Creative, which demonstrate his engagement with aesthetics and philosophy. Babbitt's writings have been widely read and debated, and his ideas continue to influence intellectual discussions in fields such as literary criticism, philosophy, and education, with scholars like Jacques Barzun and Russell Kirk drawing on his work. Category:American philosophers