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THE AGE OF REASON

THE AGE OF REASON. WHEN REASON RULED THE WORLD: 1740-1800. CHARACTERISTICS OF COLONIAL AMERICANS . TINKERERS SELF-RELIANT INDEPENDENT PRACTICAL GENERALISTS ENVIRONMENT REQUIRED THESE TRAITS. BELIEFS/IDEAS . FAITH IN RATIONALISM: ABILITY TO ARRIVE AT TRUTH THROUGH REASON

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THE AGE OF REASON

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  1. THE AGE OF REASON WHEN REASON RULED THE WORLD: 1740-1800

  2. CHARACTERISTICS OF COLONIAL AMERICANS • TINKERERS • SELF-RELIANT • INDEPENDENT • PRACTICAL • GENERALISTS • ENVIRONMENT REQUIRED THESE TRAITS

  3. BELIEFS/IDEAS • FAITH IN RATIONALISM: • ABILITY TO ARRIVE AT TRUTH THROUGH REASON • SCIENCE/SCIENTIFIC METHOD • ISAAC NEWTON, GALILEO, ETC

  4. BELIEFS/IDEAS • WORLD IS AN ORDERLY PLACE ORGANIZED AROUND NATURAL LAWS • UNIVERSE IS CREATED BY GOD AND IS BY ITS NATURE GOOD

  5. BELIEFS/IDEAS • REASON: GOD’S SPECIAL GIFT TO MAN SO THAT HE CAN USE IT: • FIND TRUTH • SOLVE PROBLEMS • DISCOVER GOD HIMSELF

  6. BELIEFS/IDEAS • HUMANS ARE GOOD • INNATE ETHICAL SENSE • PERFECTIBLE THROUGH APPLICATION OF REASON • EVIL RESULTS WHEN EMOTIONS/PASSIONS OVERTAKE REASON

  7. DEISM: A PHILOSOPHY, NOT A RELIGION • CLOCKMAKER GOD • CREATED WORLD AS A PERFECT MECHANISM RULED BY NATURAL LAWS • HE DOES NOT EVER ACT IN HISTORY: NO SUCH THING AS PROVIDENCE • LETS THE MACHINE WORK, LIKE A WOUND UP WATCH

  8. DEISM: A PHILOSOPHY, NOT A RELIGION • ONE DISCOVERS GOD BY APPLYING REASON TO THE WORLD AROUND YOU • OBSERVATION=ORDER=NATURAL LAWS=DESIGN=DESIGNER=GOD • GOD IS CAN BE DISCOVERED BY ALL AT ANY TIME THROUGH REASON

  9. DEISM: A PHILOSOPHY, NOT A RELIGION • GOD WANTS GOODNESS AND HAPPINESS FOR HIS PEOPLE • SO, BEST WAY TO WORSHIP IS NOT TO PRAY IN CHURCH • DO GOOD WORKS: HUMANITARIAN • SOCIAL IMPROVEMENTS RESULTED • HEAVEN/HELL DETERMINED BY YOUR ACTIONS ON EARTH

  10. WHERE IT CAME FROM • REACTIONS AGAINST PURITAN IRRATIONALITY, SUPERSTITION, IGNORANCE, AND PESSIMISM AND THE EVILS THAT CAME FROM THAT • WITCH TRIALS • PREDESTINATION • GOD’S WRATHFULNESS • HUMAN NATURE IS EVIL

  11. WHERE IT CAME FROM • NEO-CLASSICISM • NEO=NEW • CLASSICISM=ANCIENT GREECE • RATIONAL THOUGHT OF ANTIQUITY COME BACK TO LIFE • WASHINGTON D.C ARCHITECTURE

  12. WEAKNESSES • LACK OF FEELING • CREATIVE WORKS BASED ON IMAGINATION ARE FEW • PERHAPS OVERLY CONCERNED WITH PRACTICAL ISSUES

  13. LITERATURE • PAMPHLETS WERE HUGE AND PROFITABLE • ESSAYS: USUALLY POLITICAL • A FEW NOVELISTS: COOPER, IRVING • LAST OF THE MOHICANS • RIP VAN WINKLE

  14. LASTING IMPACT • TO BE “RATIONAL” IS STILL SEEN AS A COMPLIMENT • “COMMON SENSE” IS STILL AN AMERICAN VALUE: TERM COINED BY THOMAS PAINE • STILL SOMEWHAT SUSPICIOUS OF OVERT EMOTION • SCHOOLS: CRITICAL THINKING AS OPPOSED TO CREATIVE THOUGHT

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