Their Hearts Were Hardened
Manage episode 450412096 series 3565230
Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., a prominent American jurist, served as a Union officer during the American Civil War, an experience that profoundly shaped his outlook on life and the law. Holmes enlisted in the 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, known as the "Harvard Regiment," and fought in some of the most significant battles of the war, including the Battle of Ball's Bluff, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville. He was wounded three times—once in the chest, once in the neck, and once in the foot—each injury potentially life-threatening.
Holmes' time in the war deepened his perspective on duty, mortality, and the harsh realities of human conflict. These experiences later influenced his judicial philosophy, particularly his emphasis on pragmatism, skepticism of absolutes, and belief in the evolving nature of the law. Holmes' writings and speeches often referenced his war service, reflecting on its impact on his views about courage, sacrifice, and the limits of human endeavor.
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