enlightenment

"Two disparate Americas have always coexisted. In this thoroughly researched, engaging and ultimately hopeful story of our nation's divergent roots, Seth David Radwell clearly links the fascinating history of the two American Enlightenments to our raging political division. He also demonstrates that reasoned analysis and historical perspective are the only antidote to irrational political discourse."Did my vision of America ever exist at all, or was it but a myth?" Searching for a fresh and distinctive perspective on the recent corrosion of our civic life, Radwell's very personal and yet broadly shared question propelled his search back to our nation's founding for a fresh and distinctive perspective on the recent corrosion of our civic life - and led to a surprising discovery. Today's battles reflect the fundamentally divergent visions of our country that emerged at our nation's founding and have been vying for prominence ever since. The founding principles that shaped the United States may be rooted in the Enlightenment era. But the origin of our dual Americas is a product of two distinct Enlightenments - Radical and Moderate."--.

Presents the argument that the concept of "Manifest Destiny," whose roots are traced here, has degraded to the point where the United States feels morally obligated to end tyranny the world over and warns that if this policy is not altered, it will lead to the country's downfall.

Explores how to confront social problems and continue progress through the application of Enlightenment era ideals, including reason, science, and humanism.

A book for young readers about the life of Thomas Paine and the impact of his most famous work, Common Sense.

Presents on overview of the major figures, events, and concepts of the Enlightenment along with nine documents from the era, including John Locke's "Some Thoughts concerning Education" and Voltaire's "Letters concerning the English Nation.".

Explores the popular practices of senses and sensations during the 18th century, from playing a piano made of live cats to using tobacco to cure drowning.

Presents basic writing and selections from the work of Locke, Voltaire, Berkeley, Hume, Reid, Condillac, La Mettrie, Hamann, and Lichtenberg.

A brief biography of John Locke, the English philosopher during the Englightenment whose ideas about government impacted countries all over the world.