The Moot was a discussion group concerned with education, social reconstruction, and the role of culture in society. It was convened by J. H. Oldham, editor of the

Christian Newsletter Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ (title), Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive ...

, and its participants were mainly Christian intellectuals.

Karl Mannheim Karl Mannheim (born Károly Manheim, 27 March 1893 – 9 January 1947) was an influential Hungarian sociologist during the first half of the 20th century. He is a key figure in classical sociology, as well as one of the founders of the sociolo ...

was a central figure in the group. Others who attended included T. S. Eliot,

John Middleton Murry John Middleton Murry (6 August 1889 – 12 March 1957) was an English writer. He was a prolific author, producing more than 60 books and thousands of essays and reviews on literature, social issues, politics, and religion during his lifetime. ...

, Sir Fred Clarke,

Michael Polanyi Michael Polanyi (; hu, Polányi Mihály; 11 March 1891 – 22 February 1976) was a Hungarian-British polymath, who made important theoretical contributions to physical chemistry, economics, and philosophy. He argued that positivism supplies ...

Reinhold Niebuhr Karl Paul Reinhold Niebuhr (June 21, 1892 – June 1, 1971) was an American Reformed theologian, ethicist, commentator on politics and public affairs, and professor at Union Theological Seminary for more than 30 years. Niebuhr was one of America ...

Paul Tillich Paul Johannes Tillich (August 20, 1886 – October 22, 1965) was a German-American Christian existentialist philosopher, religious socialist, and Lutheran Protestant theologian who is widely regarded as one of the most influential theologi ...

, Sir Walter Moberly, John Baillie, Sir Hector Herrington,

Geoffrey Vickers Sir (Charles) Geoffrey Vickers, VC (13 October 1894 – 16 March 1982) was an English lawyer, administrator, writer and pioneering systems scientist. He had varied interests with roles at different times with the London Passenger Transport Board ...

, A. R. Vidler, H. A. Hodges, and

Adolph Lowe Adolph Lowe (born ''Adolf Löwe''; 4 March 1893 – 3 June 1995) was a German sociologist and economist. His best known student was Robert Heilbroner. He was born in Stuttgart and died in Wolfenbüttel. Major publications of Adolph Lowe * ...

. Catholic historian and independent scholar

Christopher Dawson Christopher Henry Dawson (12 October 188925 May 1970) was a British independent scholar, who wrote many books on cultural history and Christendom. Dawson has been called "the greatest English-speaking Catholic historian of the twentieth century ...

also contributed numerous written submissions, although he was able to attend only two meetings. The discussion group grew out of a Conference on Church, Community and State held at Oxford in 1937.

More than anything else, the discussions of the Moot revolved around the topic of order and, more particularly, around the problem of how order might be restored in British society and culture in the context of a "world turned upside down". (Mullins and Jacobs, 2006)

The discussions influenced T. S. Eliot's works of

cultural criticism Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tylor ...

''The Idea of a Christian Society'' and ''Notes Towards the Definition of Culture''.

Bibliography

* ''

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography The ''Dictionary of National Biography'' (''DNB'') is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published since 1885. The updated ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' (''ODNB'') was published on 23 September ...

'' * Clary, Betsy Jane ''Rethinking the Future: The Correspondence Between Geoffrey Vickers and Adolph Lowe'' Journal of Economic Issues, March, 1994 * ''The Moot Papers: Faith, Freedom and Society 1938-1944'', ed Keith Clements (London: T & T Clark, 2010

* Kojecky, Roger, ''T.S. Eliot's Social Criticism'', 1971, revised edn. 2014. Ch 9 'A Christian Elite' gives an extended account of The Moot. * Mullins, Phil and Jacobs, Struan 2006 ''T.S. Eliot’s Idea of the Clerisy, and its Discussion by Karl Mannheim and Michael Polanyi in the Context of J.H. Oldham's Moot'' Journal of Classical Sociology July 2006 6 pp147–15

* Mullins, Phil and Jacobs, Struan 2005 ''Michael Polanyi and Karl Mannheim, Tradition and discovery'' the Polanyi society periodical, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 20–43

* Schuchard, Margret, ‘T.S. Eliot and Adolph Lowe in Dialogue The Oxford Ecumenical Conference and After - New Letters and More about the Moot’, ''AAA: Arbeiten aus Anglistik und Amerikanistik'', Bd. 31, H. 1 (2006), pp. 3–24. * A. R. Vidler, ''Scenes from a Clerical Life'', 1977, includes reminiscences by a core member of The Moot.

External links

* Archival Material at

References

1938 establishments in the United Kingdom 1947 disestablishments in the United Kingdom Philosophy events Organizations established in 1938 Organizations disestablished in 1947 {{UK-org-stub