Monday, June 25, 2012

The American Revolution


The American Revolution



1)      How did religious and scientific ideas get mixed together in the American Enlightenment period? What were the major consequences of this?

The ideas of science and religion were hard to separate, though Enlighters attempted to separate them on the premise of private and public domain, they both held the same idea of equality and natural law, though with different meaning.
 
2) What are the major differences in the liberal view of government (Adams, Paine) and the more religious view (Winthrop)? Which is more dominant is contemporary politics? 

Adam believed in a liberal government based on natural needs, based on just, true, equal and impartial liberty (natural liberty).   Paine also holds with these believes but goes further asserting that governmental heads can be corruptible and so there is a need for more equal rights, whereas, Winthrop believed in the coupling of restrictive government and religious influence.  God would direct governmental heads in the correct reward/punishment of all, thus is not corruptible since it’s mandated by God.


Quote Interpretation

“Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil, in its worst state an intolerable one…” (Paine, pg. 50)

Paine is referring to government in general, stating government is always evil, though a necessary one.

2 comments:

  1. I like the Quote i belive every system presents it self as evil in order to maintain control of the people. It is when the govermnet takes it beyond that it becomes a problem.

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  2. I completely agree with you. The government is but a vehicle, and the people driving it dictate whether its a roadster or a minivan.

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