Posted on 12/26/2016 5:47:11 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
It seems President-elect Trump admires not only Scottish golf courses, but also Scottish philosophy, as shown by the coterie of advisers and Cabinet members he's selected for his administration.
In the 19th century, Scottish philosopher and historian Thomas Carlyle developed a theory of historiography which he coined "The Great Man Theory." This theory postulated that the process of historical examination is akin to a series of chronological biographies of these so-called "Great Men."
These great generals, artists, philosophers, theologians and entrepreneurs were the ones who truly had decisive impacts on society, rather than the other way around. Caesar, Muhammad, Shakespeare, Luther, Napoleon and Ford were not products of their time but the producers themselves. While this theory has largely fallen out of fashion within academic circles, it is still a useful conduit to examine the current political machinations.
In the age of Trump, the mainstream media airwaves have been awash with cries of impropriety and "unprecedented" actions taken by him. Trump, by his very nature, having no previous experience in elected office, is an unprecedented character for the presidency.
This should hardly be construed as a bad thing, however. One could make a strong case, as Trump himself did, that what is wrong with this country has been the meandering status quo. Sidestepping the status quo in favor of a new direction is not only what is needed, but further, what was mandated to Trump by the American people....
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonexaminer.com ...
Anyone who disagrees with Carlyle is a fool (it’s okay to think he doesn’t have the complete story, but great men matter . . . a lot). To say that Obama in place of Caesar would have made no difference, that Fidel Castro in place of George Washington would have produced a comparable country, or that Bernie Sanders in place of Henry Ford could have produced American industry is absurd. The times matched many great men because some men created their times.
Are Kilts and Bag Pipes next?
I don’t believe President-Elect Trump is making his selections for Cabinet Posts based on what he may have learned from any philosopher(s) - rather, Trump is making selections based on the prospective Nominees (and their qualifications) and of course, his experience, his intuition, and his vision of our beloved “Future America.”
I take it that the author is a fan of Carlyle, but he’s shown nothing to demonstrate that Trump or anyone else in the administration has ever even heard of the guy.
MacLeod tartan.
There can be only one.
The photo doesn't show the Sgian Dubh on his right calf.
Really? This is news because someone remembers some obscure 1800's Scottish philosopher making this point that has been know since the alpha male lead the tribe out of the cave? I figured this out before puberty. Sheesh. All together now...
I want my, I want my, I want my Ph.d. Money for nothing, but titles for free.
Upon closer inspection they miss the mark. Government, Prophet, Playwright, Protestant, Conqueror and Capitalist.
Where are the people?
Rrrrrowr! Me likey.
I don’t believe he makes decisions lightly - nothing wrong with being influenced by certain philosophers though - thinking about what past thinkers have thought helps one keep on thinking....
Gavin Wax has his finger on the dying pulse of the elites. He called them the revolving door, the same ones that rotate in and out with the various administrations.
Meanwhile, those who get things accomplished, the Great Men referenced by Carlyle, are being recruited to drain the swamp of mediocrity, incompetence, and failure to recognize the needs of everyday Americans.
The Peter Principle needs to be updated to reflect those in the political process, that spend their entire careers making promises, taking money and getting re-elected without significant accomplishments.
I would tend to think that all great men gather other good men and that Carlyle is actually describing Trump rather than Trump following Carlyle
Right, I would seriously doubt that Trump has read Carlyle. Although I have read that he is very proud of his Scottish background, so maybe someone will tell him about this column and he'll check it out. One of the things I really like about Trump is that he is not an academic or "intellectual" type. He doesn't look down his nose at non-intellectuals, as so many leftwing elitists do.
Most likely.
A person can act in accordance with some theory even if he hasn’t heard of it. Trump may have his own similar theory or he may just have excellent instincts.
I obeyed the theory of gravity long before I knew about it. ;-)
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