Philosophy/Science [1700's]
How have these ideas developed American society?
The Enlightenment
Scientific and intellectual discoveries in 17th-century Europe
Valued scientific and human reasoning over random traditions and religious reasoning
More emphasis on education, politics, and government
Was a rival to the Great Awakening
Put emphasis on Science, took away from faith beliefs
Also called the Age of Reason
Isaac Newton and John Locke were important in pushing these new ideas
Enlightenment
Age of Science, public sphere
Smallpox
Tools used to inoculate
John Locke
Influenced Declaration of Independence
The Spread of Science
- Science was increased through building of Universities and Colleges, where more secular ideas were being discussed and taught
- These included Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, and the College of New Jersey (now known as Princeton)
- A major organization for science was in England, called the Royal Society of London
- It was headed by merchants, planters, and theologians
- Reason and Knowledge should improve society
Smallpox Inoculation
- This was the beginning of vaccines
- At first, controversial
- Process:
- 1. In order to prevent Smallpox in the future, the doctors would inject subjects with mild cases of smallpox
- 2. This would cause the body to build immunity
- 3. If the person came in contact with a stronger case later, they would be able to fight it off
- In England, some of these were successful
- Cotton Mather, a Puritan theologist, believed that Smallpox was a sin
- He inoculated people during a major epidemic, which caused many people to see the effectiveness of the technique
- This came to being more widely excepted and became a common practice for the future of American medicine
Important People
John Locke
Isaac Newton
Thomas Paine
Baron de Montesquieu
- 2 Treatises of government
- Believed in natural rights - Life, Liberty, Property
- Popular sovereignty
- Influenced the Declaration of Independence
Isaac Newton
- Developed the laws of motion
- Foundation for physics
- Taught throughout colleges, even the church colleges
- Disproved many religious and traditional ideas
Thomas Paine
- Wrote a pamphlet called "The Common Sense"
- Advocated independence from England
- Sold many copies, big influence
Baron de Montesquieu
- French philosopher
- Wrote The Spirit of Laws
- Major contribution to political theory
- Known for thoughts on the separation of powers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-w7_7hvwhzw