The Core Period of the Enlightenment - Essay Example

1. Comment on the Quote by Thomas Jefferson from s on the of Virginia, 1767 and How it Reflects or Rejects Enlightenment Thinking and or Values The core period of the Enlightenment was the second half of the eighteenth century. However, the foundations were laid by the philosophers of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Jefferson admired the work of these early philosophers. Taken in the context of his notes on Religion, this quotation shows a true Enlightenment thinker. The aspects reflected are reason, experimentation, a belief in science, freedom of thought, and the acquisition of knowledge. He believes that government and legal coercion prevent the discovery of truth, by supporting mistaken thinking. Governments therefore may support errors, the truth supports itself. His opening sentence highlights ridiculous French laws, regarding diet and medicine, denying individuals the right to look after their body as they deemed fit. Once into the realms of science, philosophy and experimentation, his comments on Galileo, by how he phrases them, show his great admiration for the man and his work. His brilliant use of irony indicting the government in question, suggests it was legislating against the mind. New ideas and discoveries should be encouraged rather than punished. Jefferson ridicules that government in Galileo's case for its reaction against reason and innovative thinking. His tongue-in-cheek phrase: 'This error however at length prevailed, the earth became a globe.' (Jefferson, Chap. 17 1867) gives his opinion of such rulers. Jefferson considered Frances Bacon, John Locke and Isaac Newton to be: "three of the greatest men the world had ever produced" (Jefferson, letter to Benjamin Rush, 1811). The quotation reflects their philosophies. Bacon took Galileo's work and formalized it, suggesting that challenging orthodoxy, observing nature, using reason, would lead to true knowledge - experimentation would verify it. Jefferson incorporates Bacon's philosophies and methods, now 2. described as Empiricism, into his comments on Galileo. His treatment of Descartes is less complimentary, though highly amusing in its imagery: 'Descartes declared it (the earth) was whirled round its axis by a vortex.' (Jefferson Chap. 17 1867) concluding with the hilarious idea of everyone being involved in vortices. He acknowledges that this government did not make the mistake of forcing such a belief on the population. He rejects some of the Rationalism of Descartes; that excluding reference to the external world, suggesting knowledge is gained by reason alone. Jefferson, a man of science and practical action, accepted the ideas of critical questioning, but was less impressed with the concept of thought without investigation or experimentation. The inference here may be that this particular founding-father of the Enlightenment did not wholly fit with Jefferson's views. The quotation provides evidence of his admiration and commitment to the work and philosophy of Isaac Newton, containing reference to his theory of gravity, and how its power and truth was accepted through reason, not legislation. Newton is a seeker after the truth whose findings could not be overturned. Newton took Galileo's work and and astrological studies of his time, defined natural laws, and presented incontrovertible truths. Scientific research, experimentation, sharing the knowledge, were all aspects of the man whose thinking Jefferson admired. His remarks regarding Newton prove he is reflecting Enlightenment thinking and values. There is a connection between Jefferson's own religious beliefs and the upsurge of Natural Theology which resulted from Newton's work. The idea that Nature is proof of the Divine, a Master Designer, appealed to Jefferson, who espoused the aspect of Scientific Deism, which contends that Nature was the result of Divine Creation, then goes on to operate under universal laws. Jefferson sees in Newton what Enlightenment means in practice. Jefferson advocates that no form of coercion, no government intervention should stand in the way of knowledge, science, 3. learning and the right of mankind to exercise individual conscience and beliefs. He may be warning against this, saying, 'look what happens when these rights are denied.' So far, the quotation portrays elements of Enlightenment thinking around the philosophies of Empiricism (Galileo and Bacon), Rationalism, (Descartes) and Newton (Determinism). The overall impression is that Jefferson reflects more than rejects the thinking and values of reason, experimentation, investigation, scientific proof and freedom of thought and conscience. Although not mentioned overtly, John Locke's philosophy is inherent here. Locke's theories on government greatly influenced political thought in Europe and the early United States. It is widely accepted that his political philosophies were a huge influence on both the Declaration of Independence (which Jefferson wrote), and the American Constitution. Locke took Bacon's empiricism further, contending that experiences determine knowledge, man is a blank slate until he uses his five senses, reflects internally, and so learns. Environment influences an individual's development. Locke held that education and social institutions contributed to the development of beliefs, understanding and morality. Jefferson admired the practicality of Locke's ideas, applying them to his own scientific activities. Locke's philosophy, described as 'sensationism', i.e. what we know is based on our senses, links into Jefferson's love of gathering and recording factual information, using the senses to learn more about the world. The quotation expresses a demand for truths, as opposed to the 'error' of merely theorizing and speculating. That concept is implicit throughout; Locke advocated freedom of conscience and Jefferson is writing about religion and is agreeing with him. In conclusion, the words used and the way in which they are used give a great deal of insight into the thinking of Thomas Jefferson and the values he holds dear. There is no doubt his is an Enlightenment viewpoint. He treats those philosophers to which he connects and whose work he admires with seriousness and respect, almost holding them up as good examples of his own beliefs. Those elements such as unreasonable laws, foolish governments and unscientific thinking,which he 4. finds unacceptable, he ridicules with a fine ironic twist to his words. He is applying his Enlightenment values to the idea of freedom of conscience with regard to religion, the need for governments step back from coercion and thus compound error, and as he says: 'Truth can stand by itself.' (Jefferson Chap. 17, 1767) Reference List Jefferson, Thomas 1767 Notes on the State of Virginia Chapter 17 Notes on Religion Available from: http://xroads.virginia.edu/HYPER/JEFFERSON/ch17.html [cited 6 May 2006] Jones, Roger, The Enlightenment Available from: http://www.philosopher.org.uk/enl.htm [cited 6 May 2006] The Academy of Natural Sciences - Museum-Thomas Jefferson Fossil Collection Product of the Enlightenment [internet] Available from: http://www.acnatsci.org/museum/jefferson/otherPages/enlightenment.html [cited 6 May 2006] Read More