Enlightenment & Awakening Flashcards
The “Scientific Revolution”
-Not really a “revolution” at the time; but it did present a new way to discern “truth” from nature
-Nor was “science” a common term; instead, “natural history”
-Emphasized human reason
-Use of experimentation & inductive reasoning
-BUT “science” often integrated ideas that we might call “religious” or “magical” now.
Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
-Best known for laws of motion
-But he was also an alchemist
-Most alchemical work ignored and hidden until the 20th century
research:
Goals of Alchemy: Alchemists sought to transform base metals into noble metals, such as gold, and to discover the Philosopher’s Stone, a legendary substance believed to grant immortality or the ability to transmute materials. They also aimed to create the Elixir of Life, a potion that would confer eternal youth.
Isaac Newton is best known for his groundbreaking contributions to physics, particularly his laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation. However, he was also deeply involved in alchemy, a field that sought to transform base metals into gold and uncover the secrets of the universe through mystical and chemical processes.
The Enlightenment
-Emphasized human reason
-“Secular” approach
–NOT irreligious; nearly all Enlightenment thinkers believed in God
–God created the world, but human reason is capable of discovering its’ truths
-Rejected Calvinist pre-destination
Deism
-Deists were radical Enlightenment thinkers
-Questioned the authority of the Bible
-Reason would lead to God; not revelation
-Laws of nature
-Deists in America
–Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, James Madison, etc.
research:
Deism emerged as a philosophical belief system during the Enlightenment, characterized by a reliance on reason and observation of the natural world rather than on revealed religion or traditional religious authorities. Deists posited that while a creator exists, this creator does not intervene in human affairs or suspend the natural laws of the universe.
The Great Awakening
-Evangelical religious movement in the 1730s and 1740s
-Emphasis on human sin & depravity
–Emotional & dramatic conversion experience
–The “New Birth”
–Complete surrender to God
-Religious revivals; tent meetings; often outside
-Challenged the authority of established clergy
Anti-intellectualism
Interracial
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
-Congregational minister in Massachusetts
-Appealed to young people
-Most famous sermon: “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God”
-Defends Trinity against Enlightenment thinkers
research:
Jonathan Edwards served as a Congregational minister in Massachusetts and became a prominent figure in the Great Awakening. He had a particular appeal to young people, inspiring them with his passionate preaching and emphasis on personal faith.
His most famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” vividly illustrates the consequences of sin and the urgency of seeking salvation. In this sermon, Edwards uses striking imagery and emotional language to convey the precariousness of human existence and the need for repentance.
Additionally, Edwards defended traditional Christian doctrines, including the Trinity, against the rationalist ideas of Enlightenment thinkers. He believed that faith and divine revelation were essential for understanding spiritual truths, countering the Enlightenment’s emphasis on reason and human intellect. His work contributed significantly to the development of evangelical thought and the emphasis on emotional and experiential aspects of faith in American Christianity.
George Whitefield
-English preacher who traveled through North America in 1739-40
-Mass celebrity
-Thousands gathered to hear him speak
-Intense, emotional style
-Immediate conversions
“Old Lights” v. “New Lights”
-Old Lights: Orthodox Protestants opposed the emotional “enthusiasm” of the Great Awakening
-Charles Chauncy (right) thought Whitefield and Edwards were misguided
-Emphasized importance of reason & the Bible
-Influenced by Enlightenment ideas of rationality
Franklin & Religion
-Deist & pragmatist
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
-Born in Boston; moved to Philadelphia at 17
-Worked as a printer; eventually became very successful
-Inventor & scientist
-Politician
–Ambassador in Paris
-Master of self-presentation & self-invention
research:
Contributions to Science and Inventions: Franklin was a pioneering scientist and inventor, famous for his experiments with electricity, particularly his kite experiment, which helped to establish the connection between lightning and electricity. He also invented practical devices such as the lightning rod, bifocal glasses, and the Franklin stove, all of which had significant impacts on daily life and safety.
Role in American Politics and Diplomacy: Franklin was a key figure in the American Revolution and the founding of the United States. He served as a member of the Continental Congress, helped draft the Declaration of Independence, and played a crucial role in securing French support for the American cause. His diplomatic efforts, particularly in France, were instrumental in gaining crucial military and financial aid for the colonies during the war.
Franklin: the first “American”?
-Enlightened self-interest
–Happiness as a goal in life
–Self-interest can co-exist with virtue
-“Common Sense”
-Emphasis on practicality & utility
-The ‘self-made’ man
–Created a mythology around self-invention & individualism
–“From the poverty and obscurity in which I was born and in which I passed my earliest years, I have raised myself to a state of affluence and some degree of celebrity in the world.”
–But in reality, Franklin benefited from social connections & other privileges
