Moving from Puritanism to Moving from Puritanism to RationalismRationalism

Bye Bye, Age of Faith!Bye Bye, Age of Faith!

Well, sort of…Well, sort of…The Puritan LegacyThe Puritan Legacy Incredible work ethic / self-Incredible work ethic / self-

reliancereliance A belief that our purpose in A belief that our purpose in

America is sanctioned by God America is sanctioned by God (the city on the hill (the city on the hill manifest manifest destiny)destiny)

The need for moral justification The need for moral justification for private, public, and for private, public, and governmental acts. governmental acts.

A sense that we are morally A sense that we are morally superior – especially if we have superior – especially if we have had material success on earthhad material success on earth

The Questing for Freedom - The Questing for Freedom - personal, political, economic, personal, political, economic, and social. and social.

Hello! RationalismHello! RationalismThe Age of ReasonThe Age of Reason

The best way to be good The best way to be good is…is…

To use your logic and reason to To use your logic and reason to improve your own and others’ livesimprove your own and others’ lives

Focus is on the PRESENTFocus is on the PRESENT

Tinkers and Thinkers

New ideas had been arising in Europe and were challenging the faith of the Puritans.

The Age of Reason began with philosophers and scientists of the 17th and 18th centuries who called themselves Rationalists.

Home-grown Thinkers

“[H]ome-grown practicality and an interest in scientific

tinkering or experimenting . . . .thrived

in American colonies.”

Early Colonists had to be thinkers and tinkers to

survive; “they had to make do with what they had, and… had to achieve

results.”

If I’m a Rationalist…If I’m a Rationalist…

I BELIEVE…I BELIEVE… Human beings can arrive at truth by

using reason, rather than by relying on the authority of the past, on religious faith, or on intuition.

Man is Man is basicallybasically good, and capable of good, and capable of great things!great things!

I, the Rationalist, also I, the Rationalist, also believe………believe………

Man is a Man is a tabula rasatabula rasa, or blank , or blank slate– humans can be slate– humans can be PERFECTED through effort PERFECTED through effort and the use of reasonand the use of reason

I can improve myself NOW I can improve myself NOW and I can improve the world and I can improve the world around me NOW. around me NOW. Rationalists focused on the Rationalists focused on the PRESENT as opposed to the PRESENT as opposed to the hereafter.hereafter.

Rationalism and Revolution

Rationalists believed Rationalists believed democracy was the BEST democracy was the BEST form of Government. form of Government. (Down with Theocracy!)(Down with Theocracy!)

The American struggle for independence was justified by rationalist principles.

The Declaration of Independence bases its arguments on rationalist assumptions about relations between people, God, and natural law.

Puritanism vs. Rationalism

Puritanism

“God [is] actively and mysteriously involved in the workings of the

universe.”

Rationalism

Sir Isaac Newton said God is a

“clockmaker”. God’s special gift

to humanity was reason – “the

ability to think in an ordered, logical

manner”

God is like a ClockmakerGod is like a Clockmaker

God is not ACTIVELY God is not ACTIVELY involved in my daily involved in my daily life. He set things life. He set things in motion, but it is in motion, but it is up to US to use our up to US to use our logic and reason to logic and reason to discover the truths discover the truths about the world and about the world and human beings. human beings.

DEISMDEISM

God is accessible to God is accessible to ALL men at ALL times.ALL men at ALL times.

The universe is “orderly and good”.

Every individual is perfectible through the use of reason

God’s objective was “the happiness of his creatures.”

The best form of worship was to do good for others.

Smallpox Plague

• Outbreak in 1721 was equivalent to our problem with AIDS today.

• Cotton Mather (natural science and medicine as well as minister) was accredited with pushing a non-traditionalmethod of inoculation as a cure.

• The method was highly criticized and debated (Mather’s house was even bombed).

• Even though the treatment was controversial, it worked.

The Smallpox PlagueThe Smallpox PlagueThe controversy illustrates two interesting points about American life in the early 18th

century:

1. Contradictory qualities of the American character existed side by side (Ex: Cotton Mather, Puritanism vs. belief in scientific

progress)

2. A practical approach to social changeand scientific research was necessary in

America.

The Self-made Man/WomanThe Self-made Man/Woman Rationalism built the archetype of the Rationalism built the archetype of the

“self-made man/woman”“self-made man/woman” Masterpiece of the Age of Reason –

Benjamin Franklin’s Autobiography (written as an autobiographical narrative) – It’s the original story of the American self-made man

The self-made country?The self-made country?

Pamphlets - “[L]iterature was intended to serve practical or political ends.”

Following the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) – “organizing and governing the new nation were . . . the most important”

This is This is ‘‘Progress,Progress,’’ man man Rationalism came into its Rationalism came into its

own in the 1750’s– own in the 1750’s– Puritans were still around, Puritans were still around, but this was a movement but this was a movement away from those beliefs away from those beliefs into a more secular and into a more secular and scientific view of the world. scientific view of the world.

“American thought had to be thought in action.”

Americans wanted to “improve the public welfare by being willing to experiment, to try things out, no matter what the authorities might say.”

Franklin’s AutobiographyFranklin’s Autobiography

1. Describe Franklin’s 1. Describe Franklin’s style style of writing, citing of writing, citing examples to support what you say. examples to support what you say. Contrast it to the Puritan style.Contrast it to the Puritan style.

2.2. What personal qualities does Franklin What personal qualities does Franklin emphasize in his description of his emphasize in his description of his “Arrival in Philadelphia”?“Arrival in Philadelphia”?

3.3. What is Franklin’s plan for “Arriving at What is Franklin’s plan for “Arriving at Moral Perfection”?Moral Perfection”?

4.4. Which of the virtues Franklin outlines do Which of the virtues Franklin outlines do you believe your generation most needs you believe your generation most needs to improve on? Explain your answer.to improve on? Explain your answer.

RationalismRationalismIt’s all about the It’s all about the

LOGICLOGIC

If I’m a RationalistIf I’m a Rationalist……

I BELIEVE…I BELIEVE…

I also believeI also believe………………

My focus and emphasis is onMy focus and emphasis is on......

The present time: The present time:

I can improve myself…I can improve myself…

My attitudes about God areMy attitudes about God are......

Deist: Deist:

BUTBUT God is not ACTIVELY involved in my God is not ACTIVELY involved in my

daily life. He set things in motion, but daily life. He set things in motion, but it is up to ME to discover the truths it is up to ME to discover the truths about the world and human beings. about the world and human beings.