''New Humanism'' was a term applied to a theory of

literary criticism Literary criticism (or literary studies) is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of literature's goals and methods. Th ...

, together with its consequences for culture and political thought, developed around 1900 by the American

scholar A scholar is a person who pursues academic and intellectual activities, particularly academics who apply their intellectualism into expertise in an area of study. A scholar can also be an academic, who works as a professor, teacher, or researche ...

Irving Babbitt Irving Babbitt (August 2, 1865 – July 15, 1933) was an American academic and literary critic, noted for his founding role in a movement that became known as the New Humanism, a significant influence on literary discussion and conservative thou ...

and the American literary critic and essayist

Paul Elmer More Paul Elmer More (December 12, 1864 – March 9, 1937) was an American journalist, critic, essayist and Christian apologist. Biography Paul Elmer More, the son of Enoch Anson and Katherine Hay Elmer, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He was educ ...

. Babbitt's book ''Literature and the American College'' (1908) first gave it a definite form; it was aimed at a perceived gap between the ideals of

liberal arts college A liberal arts college or liberal arts institution of higher education is a college with an emphasis on undergraduate study in liberal arts and sciences. Such colleges aim to impart a broad general knowledge and develop general intellectual cap ...

s, and university education as it actually existed. Babbitt himself did not accept the qualification ''new'' as applied to his

humanism Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential and agency of human beings. It considers human beings the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry. The meaning of the term "humani ...

, which became influential as a strand of

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization ...

thought in the following years, up to the 1930s. Other authors associated with the New Humanist group included George Roy Elliott (1883–1963), Norman Foerster (1887–1972) and Stuart Pratt Sherman (1881–1926). Numerous attacks came from outside, especially during the 1920s. This group was also at times known as ''

The Nation ''The Nation'' is an American liberal biweekly magazine that covers political and cultural news, opinion, and analysis. It was founded on July 6, 1865, as a successor to William Lloyd Garrison's '' The Liberator'', an abolitionist newspaper th ...

'' criticism, from More's time editing ''The Nation'' from 1909. The adoption by

Seward Collins Seward Bishop Collins (April 22, 1899 – December 8, 1952) was an American New York socialite and publisher. By the end of the 1920s, he was a self-described "fascist". Biography Collins was born in Syracuse, New York to Irish Catholic paren ...

of its philosophy, or some trappings, in his publication '' The Bookman'' did something to tarnish it, in a way that external critics had up until then failed to do. Some of the members renounced the approach.

References

*''Humanism and America: Essays on the Outlook of Modern Civilisation'' (1930) edited by Norman Foerster *''The New Humanism: A Critique of Modern America, 1900–1940'' (1977) J. David Hoeveler, Jr.

External links

"Irving Babbitt"
in ''The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition'' Literary criticism {{lit-criticism-stub