Harvard Professor and Author of "Manliness" Shares his Thoughts at the NHIOP

Lecture MP3 (57.8MB) •  Podcast Feed

According to one Harvard professor, manliness is not just a characteristic but a virtue. Dr. Harvey Mansfield, professor of political philosophy, discussed his ideas about manliness with faculty, staff, students, and members of the area community on April 20.   

Hosted by the Kevin Harrington Student Ambassador Program at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics, Mansfield focused his discussion on the subject of his recent book, Manliness. Mansfield, considered one of Harvard's most outspoken conservatives, argues that the quality of manliness seeks and welcomes drama, prefers times of war, conflict, and risk, and brings change or restores order at crucial moments.

Mansfield says the ingredients that accompany manliness make it specifically male. A woman, however, can be manly, and he cited former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as an example.

"Today we are in the process of constructing a gender-neutral society, a society in which sex is not an issue. In this society, sex does not decide or in the best case does not affect your duties, your rights, and your place… We are making the English language gender neutral, and manliness, the quality of one gender, seems to describe the essence of the enemy."

Manliness also implies the sexual male and a certain attitude toward women, such as gallantry. It is a desire for the man to support and protect his family, but women now want independence. Women have the same choices that men have. Mansfield asked, "What happens when men no longer have the duties that used to go along with being a man?"  Men and women are now exchangeable, instead of complementary as nature created them. "Women have done a very good job of imitating men." 

Kyle Montgomery '07, the student ambassador who was instrumental in securing Mansfield's visit, offered his take on the lecture:  "I agree with some of the things he says and others probably disagree. From a learning perspective, though, all of the student ambassadors saw great value in bringing Dr. Mansfield to campus."

—Laura Rossi '06