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

2. Truth: How is it defined?
Medieval World:
Institutions: The Church
Authorities: The King/Queen
You are TOLD what truth is
Enlightenment/Age of Reason
The individual discovers truth
No longer dependent on institutions/authorities
Harkens back to Classic Greece
The most important component to all the progress that comes from this point forward

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

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

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

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

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

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

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

15. 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