4.2 Enlightenment Philosophy in American Literature

Enlightenment philosophy reshaped American thought in the 18th century. Ideas like reason, natural rights, and social contract theory influenced writers and revolutionaries, challenging traditional authority and religious dogma.

Key thinkers like John Locke and Thomas Paine spread these ideas through influential works. Their writings on individual liberty, rational thinking, and limited government laid the groundwork for American independence and democracy.

Philosophical Foundations

Reason and Empiricism

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• Reason, the capacity for rational thought and logical analysis, was emphasized as the primary source of knowledge and understanding
• Empiricism held that knowledge comes from sensory experience and evidence rather than innate ideas or tradition
• Philosophers argued that the world could be understood through observation, experimentation, and logical reasoning (scientific method)
• Rejected the idea that knowledge should be based solely on authority, tradition, or religious revelation

Natural Rights and Social Contract Theory

• Concept of natural rights proposed that all individuals have certain inalienable rights by virtue of being human (life, liberty, property)
• These rights were considered to be universal, inherent, and not dependent on governments or social institutions
• Social contract theory suggested that governments derive their legitimacy from the consent of the governed
• Individuals voluntarily give up some freedoms to the government in exchange for protection of their natural rights
• Governments that fail to protect these rights can be legitimately overthrown by the people

Deism and Religious Rationalism

• Deism is the belief in a supreme being who created the universe but does not intervene in its operations (watchmaker analogy)
• Deists rejected miracles, prophecies, and divine revelation, instead emphasizing reason as the path to understanding God and the universe
• Many Enlightenment thinkers advocated for religious tolerance and the separation of church and state
• Argued that individuals should be free to follow their own reason and conscience in matters of faith without coercion from religious authorities or the government

Key Thinkers

John Locke

• English philosopher whose ideas had a profound influence on the Enlightenment and the American Revolution
• Argued for natural rights, religious tolerance, and the social contract theory of government in works such as "Two Treatises of Government" (1689)
• Emphasized the role of reason and empiricism in acquiring knowledge, rejecting the concept of innate ideas
• Locke's political theories provided a philosophical foundation for the American Declaration of Independence and Constitution

Thomas Paine

• English-American political activist, philosopher, and revolutionary whose writings helped inspire the American Revolution
• Authored the pamphlet "Common Sense" (1776), which advocated for American independence from Great Britain using Enlightenment principles
• Argued for natural rights, republicanism, and the social contract theory of government
• Paine's works helped popularize Enlightenment ideas among the American public and galvanized support for the revolutionary cause

Influential Works

Common Sense by Thomas Paine

• Published in 1776, "Common Sense" was a pamphlet that made a compelling case for American independence from Great Britain
• Paine used plain language and Enlightenment principles to argue that the colonies had a natural right to self-governance and that the British monarchy was a tyrannical institution
• The pamphlet sold hundreds of thousands of copies and helped shift public opinion in favor of independence
• "Common Sense" is considered one of the most influential works in American political history and a key text of the Enlightenment era

Enlightenment Values

Individualism and Progress

• Enlightenment thinkers emphasized the importance of individual liberty, autonomy, and self-determination
• Believed that individuals should be free to pursue their own happiness and self-interest without undue interference from government or society
• Idea of progress held that human society could continually improve through the application of reason, science, and education
• Rejected the notion that society was static or that tradition and authority should be blindly followed
• Enlightenment values of individualism and progress shaped the American ideals of personal freedom, self-reliance, and innovation

Scientific Method and Rationalism

• The scientific method, based on observation, experimentation, and empirical evidence, became the primary means of acquiring knowledge during the Enlightenment
• Thinkers sought to apply the principles of scientific inquiry to all areas of human life, including politics, economics, and social relations
• Rationalism, the belief in the power of reason to understand the world and solve problems, was a central tenet of Enlightenment thought
• Enlightenment philosophers argued that reason, rather than tradition or revelation, should be the ultimate arbiter of truth and the foundation for social and political institutions
• The emphasis on scientific method and rationalism led to significant advances in fields such as mathematics, physics, astronomy, and medicine during the Enlightenment era