ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates the themes that played out over the course of time that are indelibly stamped with Thorstein Veblen's imprint, not who owned the twentieth century in intellectual terms. The special place of honor reserved for truly important figures is deserved by Thorstein Veblen—iconoclastic economist, social critic, and moral judge of the American way of life. That Veblen has attracted such an unusually diverse and disparate group of commentators should in itself warrant close attention to him. Alienation from the mainstream has become more of a counter-culture than Veblen ever imagined possible. Although trained in economics, Veblen's work is more likely to be found being taught in sociology and psychology classes. At the end of the day, Veblen gave voice to a time in which culture and civilization have returned to dominate the discourse of the wise and the best among us.
