Anna Fink
Dr. Schuler
Honors
October 31st 2008
Philosophers
have been around since before the birth of Christ. Aristotle, an influential
philosopher, lived in the fourth century B.C., and the way of thinking that he advocated
did not end with his death. There have been many great philosophers that have
lived since the time of Aristotle including John Locke (1632 -1704) and Jean
Jacques Rousseau (1712 - 1778). Philosophy
encouraged individual thought. This idea took hold in the seventeenth century
on a broader level. The use of individual thought earned this time in history the
name of "The Age of Reason."
A popular idea involved with the Age of Reason was that of Deism. A Deist believes that God revealed himself to the human race through nature and reasoning. This belief means that God is bound by the laws of nature. If the God of the Universe was to be bound by the laws of the universe, than why should the government of the people, not be bound by the laws of the people? (Commager 2) This was the basic influence that philosophy had in shaping the way the Founding Fathers formed the government of the United States of America.
The Founding Fathers could not start a revolution just because of their ideals. They first had to make the people in America believe that their ideas were true. A year prior to the Declaration of Independence, there were deliberate movements from the leaders to encourage enlightened thought. Thomas Paine wrote a series of booklets called, "Common Sense." The name alone implies that the pamphlets inspired the readers to think and to use common sense. This idea was accepted by the people. John Adams was quoted saying that Americans "realized the theories of the wisest writers" (Commager 2).
In 1776 the stage was set. Richard Henry Lee of Virginia called together various actions to push for a revolution. One of these actions was a committee meant to draw up a declaration of independence addressed to Great Britain. The committee delegated this job to Thomas Jefferson. He was picked because he had a "reputation for literature, science and a happy talent of composition" (Commager 1). In four days, Jefferson had drawn up what he thought America's declaration should be. It was then debated for three days among Congress but was hardly altered (Commager 1).
The talent of composition is shown in the Declaration, but so are Jefferson's Deist ideals. The Declaration opens with, "When in the course of human events" (Jefferson 1). Commager explained the significance of this sentence, "That [sentence] places the Declaration, and the Revolution, at once at the appropriate setting...of universal history" (2). Jefferson began writing the Declaration with humble beginnings, putting America at the same place in the world with every other nation. He goes on to say that American's are entitled to the laws of nature and nature's God. It is because of this that "they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation" (Jefferson 1). In this way, Jefferson spoke clearly his views of Enlightenment thought and Deism. Enlightened thought believes strongly in the laws of nature. "Nature is good and beautiful in its simplicity" (Harrison 469).
"All Men are created equal" (Jefferson 1). In view of Jefferson's beliefs, it is safe to say that he meant this sentence quite literally. "Nature did not impose class distinctions, or political distinctions, or religious distinctions" (Commager 3). Jefferson believed that nature is unbiased and, therefore, it is only reasonable that people's natural rights be protected by their government, not taken away by their government.
Enlightenment thought was in favor of change and progress. "Change, when dictated by reason and when in line with nature, liberates individuals and should be pursued" (Harrison 469). Jefferson reasoned that, "it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish [the destructive government], and to institute a new Government" (Jefferson 1) if their natural rights are denied by their government.
"Prudence indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient Causes" (Jefferson 1). This means that regard for one's own interest would be the leading force behind their call to action. Reason would determine that only a truly corrupt government would need to be abolished. Jefferson goes on to list the reasons why the King has abused his power and why that gives America the right and reason to declare their independence from the Royal Nation.
The Age of Reason aroused America to become a great nation. In this new age, tradition and orders from a king are replaced with enlightened thought, enabling change and progress to flourish. Jefferson said, "Happy for us that when we find our constitution defective and insufficient to secure the happiness of our people, we can assemble with all the coolness of philosophers and set it to rights, while every other nation on earth must have recourse to arms to amend or restore their constitution" (Commager 3). With the wisdom of philosophers, the Founding Fathers instituted a strong and reasonable nation.
Work Cited
Commager, Henry S. "Introduction." Introduction. The Illuminated Declaration of Independence. New York, NY: Harmony Books, 1976. 1-3.
Harrison, J., R. Sullivan, and D. Sherman. A Short History of Western Civilization. 6th ed. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1985. 469-70.
Jefferson, Thomas. "The Declaration of Independence." Thesis. Congress, 1776.
Johnson, Robert L. "The Deist Roots of America." World Union of Deists. 29 Oct. 2008 <http://www.deism.com>.
