The Demon of the Absolute (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781025591445)

"The Demon of the Absolute" is a foundational collection of literary and philosophical essays by Paul Elmer More, a key figure in the New Humanism movement. As the first volume of the "New Shelburne Essays", this work presents a vigorous defense of objective standards in art, literature, and life against the rising tides of naturalism and modernism. More examines the intellectual tension between absolute dogmas and human experience, arguing that the pursuit of "absolute" theories often leads to the erosion of traditional moral and aesthetic values.

The essays within this volume cover a broad range of topics, including the role of the critic, the nature of truth, and the shifting landscape of early twentieth-century thought. More offers incisive critiques of his contemporaries while advocating for a return to classical restraint and ethical clarity. His prose serves as a challenge to the fragmented aesthetics of his era, asserting that the value of literature is inextricably linked to its moral depth and historical continuity.

Rich in intellectual rigor, "The Demon of the Absolute" is an essential text for understanding the development of American literary criticism and the philosophical debates that shaped the modern era. It remains a powerful testament to the importance of humanistic traditions in a rapidly changing world.

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