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The Context

The Context. Early American Philosophical Ideas. How to Define It. American Philosophy = “ Philosophy in the British Colonies that became the U.S. from mid 17 th Century to early 19 th Century.”. Defining our Field.

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The Context

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  1. The Context Early American Philosophical Ideas

  2. How to Define It • American Philosophy = “Philosophy in the British Colonies that became the U.S. from mid 17th Century to early 19th Century.”

  3. Defining our Field • “American philosophy is a complex reality, enlivened by historically marginalized but never silenced voices.”- a jazz improvisation.

  4. Four Central Streams • Orthodox Puritanism • Natural Philosophy • Native American ideas • European Philosophy

  5. Some Major Aspects • Influence of Bacon, Newton and Locke • Evolution and process • Colonial versus Native American attitude

  6. European Sources-1 • Francis Bacon (1561-1626)- Novum Organum • Empirical-inductive approach to nature. • Anti-authority-Idols • Power and usefulness • of knowledge

  7. Sir Issac Newton • Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (1687) & Optics (1704) • Natural Philosophy • Universal Laws- inductive • Refinement over time

  8. John Locke (1632-1704) • 1690-Essay Concerning Human Understanding • Analytic method to human mind. • No innate ideas- Blank tablet- filled by experience.

  9. Puritan Themes • God in control of nature- read as God’s will. • Fall of humanity-battle of Good and Evil • Predestination

  10. Puritan Themes • Invisible-Visible church • Covenant and Compact • Congregationalism • Grand History- New Jerusalem-New World

  11. Jonathan Edwards • Took on Newton & Locke- Dispositional Ontology-Immanence • History of Redemption-role of human and of America

  12. Jonathan Edwards • Fight against evil-need of constant revival • Scripture and Nature • “American Augustine”

  13. Benjamin Franklin • “Father of American Philosophy & Science” • Accomplishments as Printer, writer, scientist, inventor, social reformer, diplomat, Founding father

  14. Benjamin Franklin • Identity of Electricity and Lightning- fluid theory of electricity • Science & human good- American Philosophical Society

  15. Benjamin Franklin • Religious thought-Puritan origins, but Deist • Moral philosophy-virtue and action in the world. • Franklin as a Pragmatist

  16. Native Americans • Roger Williams- “The Indigenous Attitude”-peaceful coexistence among differing peoples. • Cannibals

  17. Native Americans • Miantonomi- leader of Narragansett- proposed concepts of Wunnégin & Coanáumatous • “Sociableness”

  18. Native Americans • Noelin, Delaware prophet- “Master of Life” vision- different creation stories. • Logic of place, land

  19. Caldwaller Golden • The History of Four Indian Nations- 1727 • “Orenda”- song and voice- Haudenosaunce • Interaction, pluralism, community and growth.

  20. American Themes • Rejection modern view • Fallibilism • Pluralism • Radical empiricism • Continuity of science & philosophy

  21. American Themes • Pragmatism and meilorism • Centrality of community and the social • Others?

  22. Central Questions • What does it mean to be a self? • What constitutes a meaningful life? • What epistemological method makes most sense- how know? Information? Wisdom? • What type of community is able to respect & honor the vast variety of competing interests and values in America?

  23. Relevance to Today • Explanation of radical evil- genocide, etc. • The nature and value of democracy and the role of civil disobedience. • The role of evolutionary thought in philosophy and theology. • Race and gender issues-for self, community, politics, and knowledge.

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