'Fundamentally a Pragmatist': Thomas Mann's Political Activism

The Ida Herz Lecture 2024 examines Thomas Mann's significant engagement in the political events of his time, particularly in situations where moral principles were at stake. Focusing on Mann's reaction to the 1948 decision by the US government to withdraw support for the partition of Palestine, the lecture illustrates his sustained efforts to influence public opinion and, at times, concrete policy. The lecture underscores Mann's approach to democracy as one that extends beyond theoretical reflection, grounded in ongoing self-examination and an openness to intellectual shifts.