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Hybrid Enlightenment and Cultural Fragmentation
This chapter explores the concept of 'hybrid enlightenment,' focusing on the diverse cultural influences that shaped the democratic movements in America and Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries. It discusses how the synthesis of ideas from various traditions, including Puritanism and philosophical thought, contributed to the American identity and the unfolding culture war. The chapter also examines the transition from a unified cultural foundation to present-day fragmentation and nihilism, reflecting on the implications for liberal democracy and societal cohesion.