Unit 9 Colonial Period: 1700-1800(also known as the age of reason Enlightenment, Naturalism) ■工. Common beliefs 1. Faith in natural goodness human is born without taint or sin the concept of tabula rasa or blank slate a 2. Perfectibility of a human being-it is possible to improve situations of birth, economy, society, and religion
Unit 9 Colonial Period: 1700-1800 (also known as the Age of Reason, Enlightenment, & Naturalism) ◼ I. Common Beliefs ◼ 1. Faith in natural goodness - a human is born without taint or sin; the concept of tabula rasa or blank slate. ◼ 2. Perfectibility of a human being - it is possible to improve situations of birth, economy, society, and religion
3. The sovereignty of reason -echoes of Rene descartes cogito ergo sum or i think therefore, i am(as the first certitude in resolving universal doubt. 4 Universal benevolence- the attitude of helping everyone 5. Outdated social institutions cause unsociable behavior religious, socia economic, and political institutionS which have not modernized force individuals into unacceptable behavior
◼ 3. The sovereignty of reason - echoes of Rene Descartes' cogito ergo sum or I think, therefore, I am (as the first certitude in resolving universal doubt.) ◼ 4. Universal benevolence - the attitude of helping everyone. ◼ 5. Outdated social institutions cause unsociable behavior - religious, social, economic, and political institutions, which have not modernized, force individuals into unacceptable behavior
II. Functions of the writers of this period 1. A searching inquiry in all aspects of the world around 2. Interest in the classics as well as in the Bible 3. Interest in nature -the absentee landlord phenomenon 4. Interest in science and scientific experiments 5. Optimism - experiments in utopian communities 6. Sense of a person's duty to succeed 7. Constant search of the self -emphasis on individualism in: a. personal religion. b. study of the bible for personal interpretation
◼ II. Functions of the Writers of this Period ◼ 1. A searching inquiry in all aspects of the world around. ◼ 2. Interest in the classics as well as in the Bible. ◼ 3. Interest in nature - the "absentee landlord" phenomenon. ◼ 4. Interest in science and scientific experiments. ◼ 5. Optimism - experiments in utopian communities ◼ 6. Sense of a person's duty to succeed. ◼ 7. Constant search of the self - emphasis on individualism in: a. personal religion. b. study of the Bible for personal interpretation
■工 II Characteristics of the18th Century Dawn of liberalism freedom from restraint; age of revolutions in America and in France(1789); experimentation in science: economic concept of laissez-faire, the presence of the frontier the development of rational religion known as deism: scientific curiosity growth in nationalism growth in materialism; the age of the gifted amateur, and belief progressivism
◼ III. Characteristics of the 18th Century ◼ Dawn of liberalism: freedom from restraint; age of revolutions in America and in France (1789); experimentation in science; economic concept of laissez-faire; the presence of the frontier; the development of rational religion known as deism; scientific curiosity; growth in nationalism; growth in materialism; the age of the gifted amateur; and belief in progressivism
Philip freneau
Philip Freneau