Abraham Lincoln

This intellectual exploration delves into Abraham Lincoln's profound engagement with 19th-century ideas, examining his thoughts on classical liberalism, the Lockean Enlightenment, and religious values. Guelzo portrays Lincoln as a philosophical figure who navigated complex ideologies, emphasizing self-interest while championing emancipation, and invoking natural law in political discourse. Drawing on primary sources from diverse archives, this work illuminates the intellectual tensions that contributed to the Civil War and continue to resonate in contemporary cultural debates.