Reason has no sell‐by date

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to respond to Richard Slaughter's essay on “Is America the ‘land of the future’?”

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on a variety of literature and the authors' opinions to present the case in favour of Enlightenment values.

Findings

The paper finds that the USA is perhaps the most faithful political expression of the eighteenth century Enlightenment whose values have since been assimilated throughout the world. Enlightenment values are not beyond criticism, but that does not justify uninformed anti‐American attitudes.

Originality/value

The paper provides a counter‐balance to Slaughter's essay by arguing for a reasoned debate on the issues.

Citation

Gerber, A. and Godet, M. (2008), "Reason has no sell‐by date", Foresight, Vol. 10 No. 4, pp. 28-30. https://doi.org/10.1108/14636680810908019