Moderation in an Immoderate Age

(1 Credit Hour) · Undergraduate

With the rise of political and ideological extremism in recent decades, there have been renewed calls for moderation in politics. Yet, these appeals often seem more platitudinal than substantive. After all, what even is moderation? Is it simply a passive, unoffensive, middle-of-the-road approach to politics? Or is there a more robust understanding (and tradition) of political moderation worth recovering? In this one-credit course, we will think about moderation as an important *virtue* in politics, especially in the liberal democratic context. After defining what it is exactly, by reading contemporary authors Aurelian Craiutu and Harry Clor, we will discuss a philosophical case for moderation through readings by Aristotle, Edmund Burke, and Michael Oakeshott. Then, we will consider a theological grounding for moderation within Christian political thought, reading selections from Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Blaise Pascal, Alexis de Tocqueville, and John Paul II. Finally, we will bring the conversation closer to home by discussing the appropriateness of moderation in response to an extreme injustice like slavery through a consideration of the varying perspectives (and actions) of Abraham Lincoln and William Lloyd Garrison.