| Jedediah Purdy believes the common mood of cynical fatalism present in modern culture undercuts the possibility of meaningful civic involvement. In his book For Common Things: Irony, Trust, and Commitment in America Today, Purdy maintains that the ironic mood, represented in popular culture by such television shows as Late Night with David Letterman and Seinfeld, exemplifies the notion that it is impossible to take life seriously and that all things are open to debunking and mockery. He particularly bemoans the fact that this vein of cynicism appears to run deepest among the best educated, a fact he finds tragic because of his belief that these cosmopolitans are thus less likely to pursue careers of public service. Purdy, unlike many of his generation, insists that politics can be a realm where depth and moral courage can flourish and the common good can be promoted. |
For Common Things: Irony, Trust, and Commitment in America Today (Alfred A. Knopf, 1999) |
