NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
The Enlightenment in the United States The term Enlightenment is used to describe the essence of many socio-political tendencies in Western civilization of 18 - 19 centuries. It was nothing but a logical continuation of Renaissance, which is literally translated from French as revival. After religion of peace and tolerance was legalized in Roman Empire, its proponents began physically destroying anything that had to do with ancient cultural and scientific notions. After having established itself as dominant religion, Christianity continuously tried to slow down cultural and scientific progress. Therefore, the revival stands for returning to the ancient ideas of beauty, intelligence and justice.
We, usually associate the era of Enlightenment in Europe with French Revolution of 1792. In America, it is thought of having started much earlier, in 1750. It coincided with an increasing independence sentiment among Americans, at the time. Thomas Paine's book The Age of Reason is now regarded to be the most radical apology of logic, reason and science, as opposed to Christian nonsense. It is truly an exceptional piece, since it gives reader the full spectrum of the ideas that were behind Enlightenment in U. S.
Even up until now, some of his thoughts are still considered as too radical: Of all the systems of religion that ever were invented, there is no more derogatory to the Almighty, more humidifying to man, more repugnant to reason, and more contradictory to itself than this thing called Christianity (Paine, p. 51). Nevertheless, the Enlightenment period in America is better described in terms of Christian reformism. With exemption of Paine, there are very little original thoughts can be found, on the part of Founding Fathers. Their political theories were based on John Locks philosophy of rationalism. As a matter of fact, American intellectuals were generally regarded as inferior to English. The individuals rights and freedoms, guaranteed by new American Constitution of 1787, came as a result of social realities in America at the time and were not just some abstract categories.
Even though, many of American thinkers used to be burdened with an outdated morality, their healthy psychological drives were still showing through their superficial Christianity. Benjamin Franklin largely agreed with The Age of Reason, but he still recommended the author to consider the fact that publics reaction to his book was going to be sharply negative: I will not enter into any discussion of your principles, though you seem to desire it. At present I shall only give you my opinion that... the consequence of printing this piece will be a great deal of odium drawn upon yourself, mischief to you, and no benefit to others (Franklin, p. 281).
Yet, Franklin is also known to say that lighthouses are more useful than churches This shows us how it was possible to have freethinkers among people who were predominantly Protestants. The key to the phenomenon of Enlightenment in America is to understand the true essence of Protestantism. There is very little from religion in it it is a very rational worldview, which emphasizes on the importance of acquiring Earthly riches. Christianity and Protestantism are related to each other in the same way that elephants are related to the process of thermonuclear fusion.
Thats why, many Founding Fathers were essentially rationalists, even though they thought of themselves as devoted Christians. While recognizing the importance of some spiritual foundation for the civil laws to be based upon, Abraham Lincoln still used to ridicule Christianity: When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad. That's my religion (Lincoln, p. 127). Only a true Protestant could come up with a statement like this and still think that there was not even a trace of blasphemy in it. The Age of Reason has affected United States enormously. Sciences breaking out of Christian imprisonment, has resulted in many marvelous discoveries.
Still, in Europe, such discoveries came out as result of an abstract theorizing, while in America they were just happening spontaneously. The Enlightenment in U. S. was occurring on practical level first, and only later philosophers and politicians were finding a metaphysical justification for it. This was exactly the reason why America became the dominant power in the world by the end of 19 th century. The inventor of ironclad Robert Fulton was unable to interest French politicians in his invention, while in United States it only took him a few weeks to find investors.
At the time when European philosophers like Voltaire and Russo used to argue about what was the ideal form of government, the France was still largely a feudalist country. In United States the Enlightenment has taken different form politicians were still operating in the framework of Christian dogmatism, while technology and science was pursuing its own separate path. Many social scientists consider American Enlightenment as the bleak shadow of European one, but this is because they only evaluate it from one-dimensional prospective. The paradox here lies in the fact that even the most radical proponents of mens spiritual liberation in Europe were still mentally attached to the old values, while American Protestants were free people, in the full sense of this word.
Although, they werent able to excel in the field of theorizing, these people simply implemented the principles of freedom and ingenuity into their practical realm. Even though, the majority of people that we now associate with Enlightenment in America were believers, they always referred to a Providence, rather the to Christian God. I anticipate nothing but suffering to the human race while the present systems of paganism, deism and atheism prevail in the world - said Benjamin Rush (Rush, p. 659), yet this can hardly be thought of as justification of Christianity. The promoters of Enlightenment understood that the democracy and freedom could only become integral parts of social system, if there was also a notion of authority presented, which would insure order. Therefore, their deistic sentiments can be considered as the longing of Anglo-Saxon soul towards some greater truth.
Upon coming to the New World, European immigrants were getting enlighten by observing different physical realities. Their first task was to survive and make themselves comfortable. This is why the American liberal thinkers were more practitioners than philosophers. Yet, they were also idealists, which allowed them to combine the ideas of individuals rights and freedoms with principle of common good. Bibliography: Franklin, Benjamin The Works of Benjamin Franklin, Jared Sparks, Ed. , X: 281 - 282, to Thomas Paine in 1790.
New York: Columbia University Press, 1979. Paine, Thomas The Age of Reason. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Lincoln, Abraham Writings. New York: Ballantine Books, 1987. Rush, Benjamin Letters of Benjamin Rush L.
H. Butterfield, ed. , to John Dickenson on Feb 16, 1796. Princeton University Press, 1951.
Free research essays on topics related to: age of reason, benjamin franklin, founding fathers, rights and freedoms, thomas paine
Research essay sample on The Enlightenment In United States
