Irving Babbitt's "New Humanism" and Its Potential Value to Humanistic Psychology

Abstract

The New Humanism (1900–1940) is a cultural and intellectual call to renewal of American culture and academy that is based on classical Eastern and Western sources. This article provides a biographical sketch of Irving Babbitt, the movement's founder, and an introduction to the major ideas behind it. Particular attention is paid to Babbitt's unique anthropology and methodology. It is argued that an acquaintance with the New Humanism, as well as its similarities and differences with humanistic psychology, can be particularly valuable for psychologists working in the humanistic tradition.