1 / 23

Exploring Early American Philosophical Ideas: A Multifaceted Journey

Delve into the intricate landscape of American philosophy, encompassing diverse perspectives like Puritanism, Native American wisdom, European influences, and the contributions of figures like Franklin and Edwards. Uncover the foundational themes, central questions, and relevance of these ideas today.

dylan-hunt
Télécharger la présentation

Exploring Early American Philosophical Ideas: A Multifaceted Journey

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  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.

More Related