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Lincoln's Virtues: An Ethical Biography
written by William Lee Miller
Studio : Knopf
by Knopf
Release Date : 2002-01-15
Publisher : Knopf
Released : 2002-01-15
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780375401589
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 32 reviews)
List Price : $32.50
Our Price : $14.90
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Americancivilwar.com |
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William Lee Miller's Lincoln's Virtues is less an "event" chronology than the tracing of the moral and ethical core of Abraham Lincoln's beliefs, what Miller calls the man's "unintended preparation for greatness." Miller posits that Lincoln rightly deserves his nonpareil place in American history. But, he continues, Lincoln's greatness is best appreciated only when we realize he was merely mortal and therefore free to follow any number of courses of actions. Miller, through scores of eloquent exegeses of Lincoln's writings and speeches, explores the path--consistent, though evolving--this free agent took. Lincoln chose politics as his work. As a politician he was subject to the very real constraints of collective action. However, such was the man's "moral self-confidence," that the mantle of greatness alit on his shoulders alone. This is a revealing, delicate, and at times soaring work. It also presupposes its readers are much more than casually familiar with Lincoln's life and times. - -H. O'Billovitch |
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Product Description |
How did an unschooled career politician named Abraham Lincoln, from the raw frontier villages of early-nineteenth-century Illinois, become one of the most revered of our national icons? This is the question that William Lee Miller explores and answers, in fascinating detail, in Lincoln’s Virtues.
Lincoln, Miller says, was a great man who was also a good man. It is the central thrust of this “ethical biography” to reveal how he became both, to trace his moral and intellectual development in the context of his times and in confrontation with the leading issues of the day—most notably, of course, that of slavery.
Following the rough chronology of Lincoln’s life up to the crucial decisions in the winter of secession, the narrative portrays his conscious shaping of himself as a writer, speaker, moral agent, politician, and statesman. Miller shows us a man who educated himself through reading, had a mind inclined to plow down to first principles and hold to them, and combined clarity of thought with firmness of will and power of expression, a man whose conduct rose to a higher moral standard the higher his office and the greater his power. The author takes us into the pivotal moments of “moral escalation” in Lincoln’s political life, allowing us to see him come gradually to the point at which he was compelled to say, “Hold fast with a chain of steel.” Miller makes clear throughout that Lincoln never left behind or “rose above” the role of “politician,” but rather fulfilled the highest possibilities of this peculiarly honorable democratic vocation.
Lincoln’s Virtues approaches this much-written-about figure from a wholly new standpoint. As a biography uniquely revealing of its subject’s heart and mind, it represents a major contribution to the current and perennial American discussion of national moral conduct, and of the relationship between politics and morality. |
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Defense of a Hypocrite and War Criminal |
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Having been educated in the mythology of Abraham Lincoln, I anxiously ordered this supposed "biography". What a disappointment. It is little more than a hypocritical opinionated essay attempting to rationalize the inconsistent and criminal conduct of one of our worst Presidents. It must be remembered that the myth of Lincoln is that he somehow "saved" a union (which was voluntary and from which a democratic majority in the Confederate states had withdrawn)by instigating a "Civil War" resulting in the death of more than 600,000 human beings and the destruction of much of the South. Supposedly, the War was fought over slavery. But, both before and during the War, Lincoln stated that the war was not over this issue. Furthermore, as is typical of those trained in the law, the statements he made prior to the War about black people were so ambiguous that no one can fairly comment on his ethics or principles. What we do know is that this megalomaniac insisted upon the use of force and warfare to enforce his political theories. He believed black people were inferior. He openly espoused sending the Negroes back to Africa. Only in 1862, when it appeared the North was in jeopardy of losing his personal war did he sign the Emancipation Proclamation, an "executive order" which could not have the force of law. It freed the blacks only in the rebellion states. Ethical, obviously not. Cynical and politically self serving, obvious so. Bombing civilians in the South. Destroying civilian food supplies and means of production. No problem. Suspending habeas corpus. Locking up dissident editors of newspapers. No problem. Screw ethics. Murder for political purposes, then claim it was for the cause of abolition. Where did he stand before the War while Seward and others put themselves on the line for the abolition of slavery? He contended it was protected by the Constitution. As a lawyer he was correct. Why then did he not use his supposed personality and powers of persuasion to seek an Amendment or propose that, as recognized property under the law, slaves be purchased and freed? This book is only the most recent apology for this madman. Page after page the author extolls Lincoln with his own personal hyperbole, excusing Lincoln's misconduct. As a result of Lincoln, the blacks were supposedly "freed". Freed into what? Freed how? A century later the black population of this country was still fighting for its freedom, voting rights, against segregation, and the racial divide remains. How did this happen? When violence is involved, the memory of human beings is long. In many parts of the "old south", as a result of the assault upon them by Lincoln, they are still fighting this war. Lincoln, the hypocrite. Lincoln, the murderer. Lincoln, the war criminal. Lincoln, the depressed megalomaniac. It is just a matter of time before historians will be attempting to rewrite the history of George W. Bush, a man much like Lincoln, whose egomaniacal sociopathic personality and actions resulted in the death of countless human beings. In the case of Lincoln, history was rewritten to claim the death and destruction was necessary to free the slaves. With Bush, the weapons of mass destruction will also disappear and history will likely claim the war was fought to "free" the Iraqis by killing, maiming and dislocating more than four million human beings. Ethics, what a joke. |
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William Lee Miller's Brilliant Exploration of the morality of Abraham Lincoln shines with gem-like clarity |
William Lee Miller is an academic who writes in an understandable style. In "Lincoln's Virtues" the historian examines in clinical detail the ethical cosmos of the railspiltter from the West who rose to the White House in the nation's darkest hour.
Miller shows that Lincoln held two principles as sacred to those virtues enunciated in the Declaration of Independence: the Union which was indissoluble and predated the formation of states; the right of every American to be free. Lincoln fought hard for the black race in a racist society beyond a 21st century person's ken. He thought slavery wrong from an early age and will live forever for his authorship of the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 and support of the 13th amendment to the Constitution freeing slaves.
Lincoln as a congressman in the 1840s opposed the Mexican War as unjust. He was an enemy of the Polk administration's Manifest Destiny hubris. As a Whig politician for most of his career his great hero was Henry Clay of Ky. who managed to get the Compromise of 1850 passed. Lincoln deplored the Kansas-Nebraska act of 1854 which nullified the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The Kansas-Nebraska Act was the brainchild of Lincoln's racist 1858 opponent for the Senate in Illinois: Stephen A. Douglas. With Kansas-Nebraska it became possible for slavery to be extended into the territories entering the Union. Lincoln also opposed the Dred Scott decision and the fugitive slave act.
Miller shows how skillful a politican Mr. Lincoln was as he sought political power while at the same time moving the country forward to a more just and democratic society. His strong defense of the Constitution and the Union led to the waging and winning of the Civil War. Miller's portrait of Lincoln makes clear to this reader why he is our greatest president!
Lincoln is sometimes been attacked for racism but those critics who cast aspersions on him fail to realize the type of white supremacist society in which he was immured.Without Lincoln the United States as we know it would probably not have survived the major challenges of secession by eleven states and a horrific civil war.
Lincoln, teaches Miller, was a kind man who abhorred cruelty to animals and human beings. The sixteenth president was merciful to soldiers who fell asleep on guard duty. Had he lived, reconstruction in the southern states would no doubt have been less severe than it was. Lincoln rarely held grudges grasping the moral if not the doctrinal teaching of Christianity. He had the skills of a great author/poet. Lincoln's speeches soar higher and probe deeper into the American psyche than do those of any other American Chief Executive.
This outstanding book should be read in tandem with the author's second volume on Lincoln entitled "President Lincoln." Read these books slowly and absorb their content. One wishes their was an Abraham Lincoln to cast his stovepipe hat in the presidential ring in the current frenzied contest for the Oval Office! |
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Lincoln's Virtues: An Ethical Propaganda |
This book describes the age and circumstances Lincoln grew up and ruled in. It does this with great detail and numerous of small accounts and that's what makes it interesting to read.
Throughout the book suggestions are made of Lincoln's thoughts and at some point this gets annoying, as there are no survivors to tell the tale of the man they knew. And how good do you have to know someone who's living to judge him on his virtues, let alone someone long gone.
The ethical propaganda makes me deduct one star from this wonderful written book that can teach us a lot about the times and the decission making in our lifes. Whether Lincoln's virtues were based on the ones William Lee Miller writes about is something we'll never know... |
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Great book |
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Instead of a passive retelling of Lincoln's life, Miller examines Lincoln's choices, and how they made him the great man he became. Highly recommended. |
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Meet Abraham Lincoln, the politician |
This is a fascinating read. Lincoln deserves to be on Mt Rushmore.
I was impressed with Lincoln's ability to run the political rat race, all the way to presidency, and yet keep his moral torch so bright.
Lincoln's Virtues is a unique biography, because it focuses on Abraham Lincoln's political and philosophical ideas instead of the chronological history described in typical biographies. Most Americans know Lincoln lived in a wooden cabin, led the North to victory in the Civil War, and emancipated the slaves. However, not many know how shrewd a politician Lincoln was, and how effective a debater he was.
The book analyzes Lincoln's speeches with a focus on how he was able to stand for his beliefs while at the same time not alienate the mainstream public. His speeches were not as zealous and emotionally charged as the New England abolitionists' were; however, his moderate stance was the most practical and effective way to achieve the emancipation. While he made compromises, he never abandoned his core values. He believed all men were created equal and that one should always do the right thing. This book vaulted Lincoln to the top of my `most admired people' list.
Besides learning Lincoln's beliefs and virtues, the reader will enjoy the great political debates decorated with wit and humor. The writing by author Miller is vivid and animating: you just traveled back in time to 1859 and are sitting in the auditorium listening to the speech by the great man from Illinois.
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