Sen. J.D. Vance is no Augustine. Newman's and Brunetière's places in intellectual history are secure. The latter two also distinguished themselves by the profundity of their criticisms of cultural liberalism. Augustine's honest appraisal of human nature and original sin played an indirect role, via Calvinism, in shaping the founding fathers' commitment to limiting the amount of power any one person or interest could grasp.
Vance is a young man but there is nothing profound in his embrace of postliberal ideas. Becoming the running mate of Donald Trump, whose contempt for liberal, democratic norms is his distinguishing characteristic, only makes it less likely Vance could become an important thinker.
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