Winfried Fluck (1944--) The Man Who Became Weary of America: (2002)
Ferdinand Kürnberger's Novel Der Amerika-Müde (1855)
...In Kürnberger's view, American democracy is built on the Enlightenment assumption that political freedom will automatically liberate human reason. In contrast, Kürnberger regards the political system as a context in which human potential can develop--but will not automatically do so. Culture therefore has to become the agent of Veredlung (ennoblement) and the refusal of American culture to even attempt this must be seen as a disastrous mistake which deserves the strongest condemnation.
...In Kürnberger's view, American democracy is built on the Enlightenment assumption that political freedom will automatically liberate human reason. In contrast, Kürnberger regards the political system as a context in which human potential can develop--but will not automatically do so. Culture therefore has to become the agent of Veredlung (ennoblement) and the refusal of American culture to even attempt this must be seen as a disastrous mistake which deserves the strongest condemnation.