the basic themes and preoccupations of an unfolding, dominant puritan tradition in American intellectual life.

划线部分为介词短语，作 themes and preoccupations 的定语。“后置” 的说法纯属多余，介词短语能作前置定语吗？

unfolding 和 dominant，是两个形容词，“正在发展的，占主导地位的”，属于并列定语。两个形容词作定语时，可有三种表达式：

an unfolding dominant puritan tradition

an unfolding, dominant puritan tradition

an unfolding and dominant puritan tradition