American Literature American Literature 1700-18201700-1820

Neoclassicism and the Neoclassicism and the Enlightenment Enlightenment

a.k.a. the Age of Reason a.k.a. the Age of Reason (Rationalism)(Rationalism)

Let’s Party Like It’s 1699!Let’s Party Like It’s 1699!

The 18The 18thth century was a period of major century was a period of major change in American ideas and ideals.change in American ideas and ideals.

A group of intellectuals started a A group of intellectuals started a cultural revolution known as the Age cultural revolution known as the Age of Reason or the Enlightenment that of Reason or the Enlightenment that reformed society by focusing more on reformed society by focusing more on reason rather than religion and reason rather than religion and tradition.tradition.

They also put more of a focus on They also put more of a focus on science and its relation to the world.science and its relation to the world.

Enlightenment for Enlightenment for Everyone!Everyone!

Although the Enlightenment was present in Although the Enlightenment was present in many countries, they all had different many countries, they all had different agendas. However, the common goals of agendas. However, the common goals of progress, of tolerance, and the removal of progress, of tolerance, and the removal of abuses in Church and state were static abuses in Church and state were static throughout. throughout.

There was also a great emphasis upon There was also a great emphasis upon liberty, democracy, and republicanism.liberty, democracy, and republicanism.

A Christian Man No A Christian Man No Longer?Longer?

Enlightenment thinkers de-emphasized “grace” Enlightenment thinkers de-emphasized “grace” and “pre-destination” in favor of “moral choice” and “pre-destination” in favor of “moral choice” and scientific inquiry (“virtue,” “order,” “reason,” and scientific inquiry (“virtue,” “order,” “reason,” “sympathy”).“sympathy”).

Most also felt divine communication was not Most also felt divine communication was not necessary.necessary.

They believed nature was revelation enough, They believed nature was revelation enough, showing all that needed to be known of God. showing all that needed to be known of God.

And, now, man was free to postulate his own And, now, man was free to postulate his own theories of existence and ideas about earth and its theories of existence and ideas about earth and its relation to the sun. relation to the sun.

Say What?!?!Say What?!?!

Also, because of this new-found, free-Also, because of this new-found, free-thinking philosophy, man’s previously held thinking philosophy, man’s previously held concepts of conduct and thought could concepts of conduct and thought could now be challenged verbally and in written now be challenged verbally and in written form; fears of being labeled a heretic or form; fears of being labeled a heretic or being burned at the stake were done away being burned at the stake were done away with.with.

This was the beginning of an open society This was the beginning of an open society where individuals were free to pursue where individuals were free to pursue individual happiness and liberty.individual happiness and liberty.

And, Why the Sudden And, Why the Sudden Change of Heart?Change of Heart?

During this time, great changes occurred in scientific During this time, great changes occurred in scientific thought and exploration. New ideas filled the horizon thought and exploration. New ideas filled the horizon and man was eager to explore these ideas freely.and man was eager to explore these ideas freely.

Some of this was because of the Industrial Some of this was because of the Industrial Revolution (1750-1850) Revolution (1750-1850)

Read All About ItRead All About It

The Industrial Revolution allowed The Industrial Revolution allowed for consumer goods to be produced for consumer goods to be produced in greater quantities at lower in greater quantities at lower prices, encouraging the spread of prices, encouraging the spread of books, pamphlets, newspapers and books, pamphlets, newspapers and journals, helping to easily spread journals, helping to easily spread the new way of thought.the new way of thought.

Discover Much?Discover Much?

Technological advances greatly improved Technological advances greatly improved scientific instruments such as the scientific instruments such as the microscope, leading to the discovery of microscope, leading to the discovery of the cell and the thermometer .the cell and the thermometer .

And led to the invention of new And led to the invention of new instruments such asinstruments such as– the ophthalmoscope for looking inside the the ophthalmoscope for looking inside the

eye.eye.– the sphygmograph for measuring blood the sphygmograph for measuring blood

pressure.pressure.

Discover Much?Discover Much? Other inventions and discoveries include:Other inventions and discoveries include:

– The lightening rodThe lightening rod– The improved steam engine and first steam shipThe improved steam engine and first steam ship– The flush toiletThe flush toilet– Circular sawCircular saw– Bi-focal lensBi-focal lens– Gas turbine Gas turbine – Cotton ginCotton gin– Small pox vaccinationSmall pox vaccination– Batteries Batteries – Paper sheet making machinePaper sheet making machine

Sir Isaac Newton: The Big Sir Isaac Newton: The Big Wig Wig

(no pun intended)(no pun intended) Discovered the binomial theorem Discovered the binomial theorem

(elementary algebra)(elementary algebra)

Invented differential calculusInvented differential calculus Made the first calculations of the moon's Made the first calculations of the moon's

attraction by the earth attraction by the earth Described the laws of motion of Described the laws of motion of

classical mechanicsclassical mechanics Formulated the theory of universal Formulated the theory of universal

gravitationgravitation

DeismDeism

Many of the free thinkers who embraced Many of the free thinkers who embraced this new view on life (including Jefferson this new view on life (including Jefferson and Franklin) called themselves “Deists.”and Franklin) called themselves “Deists.”

They believed in one God, but rejected They believed in one God, but rejected many of the traditional views held by the many of the traditional views held by the church and organized religion as well as church and organized religion as well as many of the supernatural aspects of many of the supernatural aspects of religion (miracles, the Trinity, and the religion (miracles, the Trinity, and the belief the Bible is 100% accurate.)belief the Bible is 100% accurate.)

The Puritans can Take Their The Puritans can Take Their Buckled Shoes and Shove ‘Em!Buckled Shoes and Shove ‘Em!

The Deists believed humankind is The Deists believed humankind is naturally good, as opposed to the naturally good, as opposed to the Puritan belief that all people were either Puritan belief that all people were either born into salvation or damned to hell.born into salvation or damned to hell.

They also thought the more we They also thought the more we understand and sympathize with each understand and sympathize with each other, the richer our social and spiritual other, the richer our social and spiritual lives will be.lives will be.

Neoclassicism:Neoclassicism:Those Greeks Had It Those Greeks Had It

Right…Right… Neoclassicism drew inspiration from Neoclassicism drew inspiration from

ancient Greece and Rome and emulated ancient Greece and Rome and emulated their style and tradition.their style and tradition.

Used rhetoric, reason, logic, and the Used rhetoric, reason, logic, and the Socratic method in writing and analyzing.Socratic method in writing and analyzing.

Focused on restraint rather than emotion Focused on restraint rather than emotion so the reader could draw their own so the reader could draw their own conclusions.conclusions.

Language was dignified and refined.Language was dignified and refined.

RhetoricRhetoricToday this term means “the art of speaking or writing Today this term means “the art of speaking or writing effectively (especially persuasive speaking or writing).” In effectively (especially persuasive speaking or writing).” In Franklin’s time the term meant the same thing, but more Franklin’s time the term meant the same thing, but more precisely it stood for “the study of principles and rules of precisely it stood for “the study of principles and rules of composition formulated by critics of ancient times.”composition formulated by critics of ancient times.”

LogicLogicA system of rules used to express reasoningA system of rules used to express reasoning

ReasonReasonIf one is “rational,” then he has the ability “to reason.” If one is “rational,” then he has the ability “to reason.” What does it mean to reason? Reasoning is a type of What does it mean to reason? Reasoning is a type of thinking used to seek a truth through cause and effect thinking used to seek a truth through cause and effect and through drawing conclusions.and through drawing conclusions.

Socratic MethodSocratic MethodA technique in which a debater does not argue directly but A technique in which a debater does not argue directly but instead asks a series of questions, with the result that the instead asks a series of questions, with the result that the opponent comes either to the desired knowledge by opponent comes either to the desired knowledge by answering the questions or to a deeper awareness of the answering the questions or to a deeper awareness of the limits of his knowledge. limits of his knowledge.

Should We Be Wearing Should We Be Wearing Togas?Togas?

Writing, especially poetry, was Writing, especially poetry, was seen as having a public function; it seen as having a public function; it was not seen as a means for was not seen as a means for private, individual expression.private, individual expression.

A mode through which timeless A mode through which timeless truths could be imparted.truths could be imparted.

These were more or less “self-These were more or less “self-help” pieceshelp” pieces

Order and VirtueOrder and Virtue

These free thinkers also believed we These free thinkers also believed we should organize our lives into an should organize our lives into an ordered sequence of reasoned and ordered sequence of reasoned and virtuous thoughts and behaviors.virtuous thoughts and behaviors.

Aim is “human perfection,” meaning Aim is “human perfection,” meaning humans should perfect themselves humans should perfect themselves for themselves and by themselves for themselves and by themselves not for anyone else or for a greater not for anyone else or for a greater being.being.