Lessons from Lincoln, conservatism's historian, Hazony's criticism, and more... 

The best of intellectual conservative thought, every Thursday
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This week’s Intercollegiate Review has good news and bad news.

Let’s get the bad out of the way first. The first two pieces are necessary, if solemn. The last two are both necessary and inspiring, so read to the end.
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CATEGORY: POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY (9 min)



** Abraham Lincoln on How to Love America ([link removed])
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Bad news: Independence Day is controversial.

Last week Nike pulled its Betsy Ross flag shoes when Colin Kaepernick suggested that the Revolution-era flag was racist.

And San Diego decided to drop $600,000 to paint over a George Washington mural.

Why Is Patriotism So Problematic?

Yes, American history includes immorality, bigotry, and injustice.

But short of an armed uprising, how do we preserve our identity, and how should we live as citizens?

“Honest Abe” Shows the Way . . .

Twenty-eight-year-old Abraham Lincoln saw a way to love American institutions without going blind.

He also foresaw the dangers of mob “justice.” Spend some time with his address to the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois. His words are as relevant now as they were in 1838.

Read Now ([link removed])
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CATEGORY: CONSERVATISM (10 min)



** Conservative Rationalism Has Failed ([link removed])
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Standing naked before the mirror can be uncomfortable.

But it’s critical to seeing ourselves as we really are.

In the American Mind, Yoram Hazony is putting conservatism in front of the mirror.

What does it look like without a filter?

Where Conservatism Went Wrong

Hazony argues that conservatives have appealed to “reason” and “freedom” to defend timeless principles and customs. And it’s not working.

In fact, he writes, it’s the same tactic our opponents use.

Read Hazony’s essay to learn:
* The importance of particular customs and traditions, and the dangers of discarding them

* The necessity of religion

* Why “reason” inevitably leads to disagreement

Agree with him or not, every conservative ought to take a hard look in Hazony’s mirror.

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CATEGORY: HISTORY (6 min)



** George H. Nash: Conservative Historian ([link removed])
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OK, now to the good news.

It feels like it’s been around forever, but American conservatism is a relatively new movement.

Bet you didn’t know it started in the 1950s. But how could you, unless you talked to its historian?

Meet the Sherlock Holmes of Conservatism

In City Journal, Christian Alejandro Gonzalez profiles the leading historian of the conservative movement, George Nash.

Nash has been chronicling American conservatism’s development for 50 years, gathering clues like a detective to discover its past.

Do You Need to Be Left to Be Intellectual?

If his sleuthing has proved anything, it’s that conservatism has a more robust intellectual tradition than its opponents will admit. You’d never guess that from media coverage today.

Want to get a sense of where conservatism has been, and where it’s headed in the time of Trump?

This profile of its greatest historian is a good place to start.

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CATEGORY: HUMANITIES (68 min)



** The Purpose of the University ([link removed])
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What’s the purpose of the university?

Should it increase your knowledge or shape your moral character?

We’re taking advantage of the summer heat to pause and reflect on this basic question. University president Christopher Howard unpacks the tensions that have always lain at the heart of the university, and he shows you how to make sense of them today.

If you or someone you know is starting college next fall, this is a must-watch.

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** Who We Are, What We Do
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Are you looking for an education and a community dedicated to preserving the principles and ideas worth saving? Learn more and get started with ISI today!

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