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PARTISAN REVIEW
lead to a thorough examination on the part of America of her
basic myths, with the probable result of bringing the myths closer
to positive reality and conversely, spiritualizing positive reality by
these very myths. Such a drawing of what has been darkly, though
strongly, "felt" as "the American way of life" into the realm of
rational awareness would not only lead most likely to a cultural
renaissance without precedent but would also provide a sense of
self-confidence so nece$ary for moderation in international relations.
For the historical world, and particularly for Europe, the in–
creasingly close contact with American civilization could lead to a
less unilateral conception of the various limits and limitations on
the part of great masses of people; in other words, while main–
taining her faith in certain limits (customs, traditions) nece$ary
for her cultural and moral life, Europe might be inspired by Amer–
ica's example and try to abolish many others, limits of a political
and social and economic nature which have been imposed by man
under different historical circumstances and carried over into our
time without being able to satisfy the needs of a modern society;
among these limits one might mention the various forms of feudal–
ism, the rigid class distinctions, the tendencies of old-fashioned na–
tionalism. Finally, as far as the construction of a European Union
is concerned, the American idea of government as the administrator
of the affairs of its citizens may be of use; one could think of a
European Commonwealth founded upon the principle of strict
utility in which the traditional States are, however, preserved,
though only as symbols of cultural activity.
