Levin explores the philosophical basis of America's foundations and the crisis that the government faces today.

Title from web page. Compact discs.

Introduction -- Part I. On utopianism: the tyranny of utopia; Plato's Republic and the myth of the perfect society; Thomas More's Utopia and the loss of individualism; Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan and the all powerful state; Karl Marx's Communist manifesto and radical egalitarianism -- Part II. On Americanism: John Locke and the nature of man; the influence of Locke on the founders; Charles Montesquieu and republican government; the influence of Montesquieu on the framers; Alexis de Tocqueville and Democracy in America -- Part III. On utopia and America: post-constitutional America; Ameritopia.