The Dream of a Democratic Culture ― Mortimer J. Adler and the Great Books Idea

This book argues that the deepest purpose of the twentieth-century's prominent great books promoters was to support an intellectually robust, consensus-oriented democratic culture. Using previously unexamined sources, the manuscript presents a moderately revisionist history of the great books idea anchored in the following movements and struggles: fighting anti-intellectualism, advocating for the liberal arts, distributing cultural capital, and promoting a public philosophy, anchored in mid-century liberalism, that fostered a shared civic culture. Each of these efforts had positive and negative components, as well as a political undercurrent. The book explores the variable popularity of the great books idea in relation to both its changing external circumstances and inherent virtues and vices. This history shows that the great books idea emerged - in flexible form - from late nineteenth-century cultural, industrial, and educational problems. In the 1920s, this story converges with the life of Mortimer J. Adler. Adler headed a group that moved the idea out of the academy and helped weave it into social and cultural fabric of the United States. However, his philosophical work and promotional methods created severe negative impressions of the great books with some critics. After a down period in the 1970s, Adler helped revive both the great books and his own reputation in the 1980s. Even though he would undermine both again by the end of the same decade, he and his cohort revealed themselves more as out-of-touch mid-century liberals than conservative ideologues. The Dream of a Democratic Culture conclusively shows that no wing of the culture wars owns the great books idea: it can be liberal or conservative depending on usage, selection criteria, and context.

Tim Lacy has a PhD in American history from Loyola University Chicago, USA, where he is currently employed. He has taught history at Monmouth College, USA, and several Chicago-area colleges and universities.