1. Irving Babbitt was an American academic and literary critic, noted for his founding role in a movement that became known as the New Humanism, a significant influence on literary discussion and conservative thought in the period between 1910 and 1930.
Irving Babbitt was a cultural critic in the tradition of Matthew Arnold and a consistent opponent of romanticism, as represented by the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Irving Babbitt was an advocate of classical humanism but offered an ecumenical defense of religion.
Irving Babbitt's humanism implied a broad knowledge of various moral and religious traditions.
Irving Babbitt moved with his family over much of the USA while a young child.
Irving Babbitt was brought up from age 11 in Madisonville, a neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Irving Babbitt then was offered in 1894 an instructor's position, again at Harvard, in French.
Irving Babbitt was to stay at Harvard, rising from the ranks to become a full professor of French literature in 1912.
Irving Babbitt is credited with introducing the study of comparative literature there.
Irving Babbitt was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1921.
At the time, Irving Babbitt had switched out of classical studies.
Irving Babbitt continued to publish in the same vein, often denouncing authors from his avowed specialty, French literature.
Irving Babbitt criticized Francis Bacon and denounced literary naturalism and utilitarianism.
Irving Babbitt put stress on self-discipline and the need to control impulses seeking liberation from all restraints.
Irving Babbitt opposed naturalism on the grounds that it emphasizes the dominance of external natural forces over the strength of character and individual conscience.
Irving Babbitt denounced romanticism; and especially its chief propagator, Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
Irving Babbitt warned that Rousseau was the chief negative influence over modern culture.
Irving Babbitt opposed overt sentimentalism, celebration of human perfection and utopian thinking of romanticism.
Irving Babbitt's views were in the tradition of classical pre-romantic literature.
In 1924, Irving Babbitt published, which is perhaps his best-known work; Democracy and Leadership.
Irving Babbitt attacked both for giving too much importance to forces of nature and unrestrained human passion and impulses; while ignoring the fundamental importance of individual conscience and moral character.
Irving Babbitt stated high moral character as the most important quality of leadership in a democratic society.
Irving Babbitt warned against the dangers of unchecked majoritarianism in democracies.
Irving Babbitt's book is considered as a classic conservative political work.
Irving Babbitt rejected socio-political activism and sentimentalism as no substitute for individual conscience and character.
Irving Babbitt had an early influence on T S Eliot, a student of his at Harvard.
Scholars influenced by Babbitt include Milton Hindus, Russell Kirk, Nathan Pusey, Peter Viereck, Richard M Weaver, Claes G Ryn, and George Will.
From a position of high prominence in the 1920s, having the effective but questionable support of The Bookman, New Humanism experienced a drop from fashionable status after Irving Babbitt died in 1933 and modernist and progressive currents became increasingly dominant in American intellectual, cultural and political life.
Irving Babbitt married Dora May Irving Babbitt on June 12,1900, with whom he had two children: Esther and Edward Sturges.
Irving Babbitt died at his home in Cambridge, Massachusetts on July 15,1933.