Knapp: Who is Afraid of Moderation?

Aurelian Craiutu, PhD | Knapp Chair of Liberal Arts

A line that people sometimes remember regarding moderation belongs to Barry Goldwater: “Extremism in the pursuit of liberty is no vice, moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Although Goldwater’s skepticism toward moderation did not fare well in the 1964 presidential election, his words invite us to rethink the nature of moderation and examine who is afraid of this misunderstood virtue and why. In this Knapp Lecture, Aurelian Craiutu, PhD, the Arthur F. Bentley Professor of Political Science at Indiana University Bloomington, argues that moderation is a complex virtue with many ethical and institutional facets and a fascinating genealogy which is often neglected. His lecture will address the following questions: What kind of virtue is political moderation? What does it mean to be a moderate voice in politics? What are the limits and benefits of moderation? Can moderation be a winning card in our hyper-polarized political world?

Copies of Aurelian Craiutu’s book, “Why Not Moderation?: Letters to Young Radicals”, will be for sale by Warwick’s Bookstore.

Moderation is often presented as a simple virtue for lukewarm and indecisive minds, searching for a fuzzy center between the extremes. Not surprisingly, many politicians do not want to be labelled 'moderates' for fear of losing elections. Why Not Moderation? challenges this conventional image and shows that moderation is a complex virtue with a rich tradition and unexplored radical sides. Through a series of imaginary letters between a passionate moderate and two young radicals, the book outlines the distinctive political vision undergirding moderation and makes a case for why we need this virtue today in America. Drawing on clearly written and compelling sources, Craiutu offers an opportunity to rethink moderation and participate in the important public debate on what kind of society we want to live in. His book reminds us that we cannot afford to bargain away the liberal civilization and open society we have inherited from our forefathers.