NeoClassicism vs. Romanticism
             To Neo Classicists in the 18th century, using reason was the key to discovering universal truth. Conflicting the Classic ideal was the 19th century Romantic. The Romantics felt that feeling was truth. American society today is a tough world and "street-smarts" would have to come into play to make it through this hectic life. Society today rarely allows any opportunity to subject to feeling and emotion to understand what goes on and conclude to actions forced by what an individual feels. Hence in this 21st century, Americans would benefit far greater from qualities derived from the tenets of the Neo Classical though of rationalism rather than the Romantic's ideal of feeling as the best guide to Truth.
             The Neo Classic period ranged from the Pre-Enlightenment through the Age of Reason. During this time, literature strived with a variety of tenets that were held true by many civilizations. Specific literature in which these tenets may be found include, but not limited to: "Hoichi the Earless", "The Rape of the Lock", "Essay on Man" and various pieces of art. Such works evidently prove that reason is the best guide to Truth in 21st century American society.
             The Neo Classical idea of reason as the guide towards truth is relatively equitable in today's world. Reason is magnificently portrayed in Alexander Pope's "Essay on Man". The poem mentions "Self-love, to urge, and Reason, to restrain," which means that we ought to use reason in order for us to contain ourselves; to use reason as our core of thought and action. In this frantic society we live in, this idea must be greatly focused on. Without the use of reason, we would all be mad. Not only would it force the disintegration of society, but also the disintegration of America in its presence. Society would fall due to the fact that more and more people would su...