Perspective

The perspective of The Fourth Turning is one that attempts to stand above ideologies and cultural trends. The authors attempt to stand astride history and view broad generational trends in social attitudes, the rise and fall of individualism and communitarianism, the ebb and flow of traditionalism vs. progressivism in moral attitudes, civic pride vs. alienated and so on. They are strongly in favor of a cyclical view of history, as opposed to a linear view, however. They believe that history cannot properly be understood nor prophecy accurately generated without understanding that history repeats itself. One interesting view that the authors express is that certain social attitudes, beliefs and ideologies are appropriate in some seasons but not in others. They advise Americans to obey community norms as they appear in the present period and emerge in the future. They blame political ideologies like conservatism, liberalism, socialism and libertarianism for...