Irving Babbitt

1865 - 1933

Irving Babbitt (1865-1933) was an American literary critic and scholar, best known for his advocacy of humanism and moral philosophy in literature. A professor at Harvard University, he criticized modernist literature and championed a return to classical values, influencing the New Humanism movement. Babbitt's notable works include "Literature and the American College" and "The New Laokoon," emphasizing the integration of ethical considerations in literary criticism.