Ebook: Reflections on America by Jacques Maritain

From Foreword: This little book grew out of three seminars which were held at the University of Chicago, under the auspices of the Committee on Social Thought, on November 6th, 7th and 9th, 1956. My talks were stenotyped, and in revising the copy I have added a number of pages, taking care, moreover, in no way to change the original character of my approach. I doubt that I would ever have undertaken to treat of the topic ex professor. So it was essential for me to keep in the book the tone of informal, familiar, and desultory conversation that I used originally. It may happen that some undignified colloquial expressions will be found here and there in my text. Why did I indulge in this kind of vernacular? I no longer wish (as I did in my youth) to irritate the reader, or even to put his sense of humor to the test. But the fact is that I hate a perpetually and uniformly serious style; it is, to my mind, like those grandes robes de pédants of which Pascal spoke and in which people's fancy likes to clothe philosophers. I take truth seriously; I don't take myself seriously. I thought it especially advisable to have these "random reflections on the American scene" put forward before an American audience and tested by its reactions and criticisms. I must say that the reactions were most encouraging, and that, except for a few points of detail (such as the role of ideology in American history), the comments of the participants in the seminars were a corroboration of the general accuracy of the views I submitted. I wish to express my gratitude to the audience, and especially to the chairman, Professor John U. Nef, as well as to Saul Alinsky, Professor Yves Simon, Mrs. Russell Davenport, Reverend Father John Egan and Reverend Father Edward O'Connor, whose remarks I particularly appreciated. I am also indebted to the valuable observations of my friends John Hite, Marshall Suther, E. B. O. and Cornelia Borgerhoff. To all of them my most cordial thanks. I would like to add three remarks. In the first place: this book emanates from experiences and convictions which are common to my wife and myself. Her admiration and love for this country are as deep as mine. She has long wished that I might bear this sort of testimony, and she has a great part in it. In the second place: no allusion to politics is to be found in my talks. It is not, to be sure, that I disregard or ignore the importance of political activity. As I grow old I realize more and more how fundamental for mankind this activity is -- and how deeply it depends on the most disappointing contingencies. If I were ever to write on these matters, especially on the matter of international politics, I would have many things to say, and not always flattering, even for the countries I love most. But the subject I had to treat of was quite different, and more appropriate to the only task to which I am now holding fast, which is philosophy. It is by peoples, not by governments, that the attention of a philosopher is captivated."