Converging Dialogues

#448 - Lincoln's Tragic Pragmatism: A Dialogue with John Burt

Oct 6, 2025
Join John Burt, a Professor of American Literature at Brandeis University and author of *Lincoln's Tragic Pragmatism*, as he delves into Lincoln's complex moral landscape. Burt explores how Lincoln navigated the tensions between personal convictions and public duty, particularly regarding emancipation. He discusses the implications of moral compromises, the dangers of fanaticism, and the evolution of American identity through the lens of equality. Their conversation highlights how historical lessons remain relevant to today's political challenges.
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INSIGHT

Moral Action Despite Imperfect Means

  • Lincoln accepted that political solutions would be partial, temporary, and morally compromised but still necessary.
  • He modeled responsible action under moral uncertainty rather than moral purity.
ANECDOTE

Hodges Letter: Private Morals, Public Duty

  • Lincoln privately believed slavery was wrong but publicly subordinated that belief to preserving the Union.
  • He explained this tension to Kentucky editors in the Hodges letter while preparing emancipation measures.
INSIGHT

Emancipation As Strategic, Not Just Moral

  • Lincoln used emancipation as a wartime measure aimed at crippling the Confederacy and recruiting soldiers.
  • He deliberately framed emancipation to be legally defensible and practically irreversible by arming Black soldiers.
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