James Bowman has written perceptively in the current edition of The New Criterion about the applicability of the Overton Window to the unreality so prevalent in woke ideology. I’m probably way behind the rest of you, but the Overton Window concept was unknown to me until recently, and it refers to the idea developed by Joseph Overton and his colleague Joseph Lehman at the Mackinac Center, stated simply that the Overton Window of political possibility is the range of ideas the public is willing to consider and accept. In other words, as the students of this concept believe, public officials cannot enact any policy they please like they’re ordering dessert from a menu. They have to choose from among policies that are politically acceptable at the time, and they believe the Overton Window defines that range of ideas. A perfect example is the notion of legal same-sex marriage, a concept totally out of bounds just a few years ago that has reached almost universal acceptance.
Bowman attempts to answer the question of who decides what falls within the Overton Window and what does not and he puzzles about the unreality of the various schools of woke ideology. As he notes, “…..we know that when socially and historically established beliefs about the world break down, people will tend to believe what they want to believe. And increasing numbers of them want to believe in something like the woke ideology that promises liberation from old-fashioned notions of reality”. He hopes he is wrong and so do I, but he thinks the Overton Window is about to close on American life as we have known it up to now. I’m not so pessimistic. I’m seeing some pushback from a few courageous institutions, but mainly ordinary citizens who are stepping up because they have seen quite enough of this unreality, and this reaction may reach critical mass sooner than we think.
Jim, this is the first I’ve heard of the Overton Window. I must say, it seems to me Bowman is on to something with the idea the window appears to be open continually and wider. You are right though,k some are pushing back, but it appears to me they are mostly parents, political conservatives and Christians. Its encouraging when universities speak out in support of free speech and curtailing DEI. Spontaneous boycotting of woke corporations is also encouraging. Maybe there is still hope.
Jim, in 2010, Glenn Beck wrote a fictional novel called The Overton Window which integrated the concept into a fictional setting and, I suppose, represented an effort by Mr. Beck to shout out an early warning of what things might look like if this concept takes root in a major way. Although a different concept of a bad idea taking root, Beck’s book reminded me of the prescience of Paul Erdman’s books in the late 70s and early 80s addressing the crash of our economy. I remember with a smile when Paul was upbraided by members of the press about the fact that his dire predictions on the end of our economy/country (e.g., The Last Days of America and others of similar tone and subject matter) had failed to pan out. When asked what he had to say about that, he replied with a twinkle in his eye, “That I write Fiction.” We live in interesting and potentially dangerous times.
My first time to hear of it also, but it brings to mind what Francis Schaffer said years ago “when there are no absolutes, society becomes the absolutes:” The Framers envisioned that the “Coin” of freedom had two sides-Freedom and Responsibility. When the Judeo/Christian principles of Responsibility are rejected, “Freedom” knows no bounds in principles or practices and the “window” opens VERY wide, very quickly, as your comments note.
Love that David.
Thank you, Jim, for introducing the Overton Window. It reminds me of Christian Rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s recent book “The Return of the Gods”, where he references Jesus’ parable of the house swept clean of an evil spirit, but left unoccupied & thus re-inhabited by more evil spirits
(Matthew 12:43-45 & Luke 11:24-26). He equates our ushering God out of our civic life in the 60’s left our country vulnerable to the gods of the Old Testament (Baal, the Possessor: Asherah, the Enchantress; & Molech, the Destroyer.) As other authors say, “money, sex, & power” are our gods,
Great analogies, Ann.
Because I live in Michigan, I was familiar with the Overton Window theme advanced by The Mackinac Center. History shows us that more often than not great calamity will precipitate the closing of such windows. I know not if we will suffer an episode or two that shock the culture enough to remediate the hedonistic waves that have fallen upon us.
Jim, in 2010, Glenn Beck wrote a fictional novel called The Overton Window which integrated the concept into a fictional setting and, I suppose, represented an effort by Mr. Beck to shout out an early warning of what things might look like if this concept takes root in a major way. Although a different concept of a bad idea taking root, Beck’s book reminded me of the prescience of Paul Erdman’s books in the late 70s and early 80s addressing the crash of our economy. I remember with a smile when Paul was upbraided by members of the press about the fact that his dire predictions on the end of our economy/country (e.g., The Last Days of America and others of similar tone and subject matter) had failed to pan out. When asked what he had to say about that, he replied with a twinkle in his eye, “That I write Fiction.” We live in interesting and potentially dangerous times.
Overton’s window is expanding with the intent of being broken out by the multi-prong attacks on truth, as truth is the window frame that holds the window.
We allow ourselves, especially as religious people regardless of faith to view societal changes in terms of the perpetual ongoing war of good and evil.
The real debate (and war to the extreme) is between “truth’ and “error”. I can destroy Overtons Window when I redefine “truth” (Bible, Koran, etc.) from being universal to society to recreating it in the image of self, as we all too often hear today in people proclaiming, “I’m living MY truth”.
There is only one truth, it’s like the law of gravity that is manifested in the use of a carpenter’s plum bob. When disregarding the truth in creating our own we make errors – physical, spiritual, personal and societal.
We must proclaim and educate our youth, while reinforcing ourselves in the truth to prevent errors, as the errors manifest themselves into what we recognize as evil
Truth is, and creates “good”, whilst error is, and creates “evil”. Therefore, to prevent error we must hold fast and declare truth in love at all times and in all things, especially when we witness or foresee error in the future based upon history and life experience.
There can only be one truth, but there are countless errors. So, what’s the truth? I believe that a Jewish part time carpenter, teacher, community organizer living in the backwaters of Israel 2000+ years ago nailed it when He boldly proclaimed “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life”. And in so doing revealed Himself to be God, the omnipotent Creator of all things, including TRUTH. In turn we are given His Truth in His Word, that we call the Bible.
Stand fast and put on the full armor of God and proclaim truth, and only truth, in love for others to avoid errors in all things and at all times, as it is the Truth that sets us free.
Good essay, Tim. Thanks.