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American Enlightenments: Pursuing Happiness in the Age of Reason
A provocative reassessment of the concept of an American golden age of European-born reason and intellectual curiosity in the years following the Revolutionary War
The accepted myth of the “American Enlightenment” suggests that the rejection of monarchy and establishment of a new republic in the United States in the eighteenth century was the realization of utopian philosophies born in the intellectual salons of Europe and radiating outward to the New World. In this revelatory work, Stanford historian Caroline Winterer argues that a national mythology of a unitary, patriotic era of enlightenment in America was created during the Cold War to act as a shield against the threat of totalitarianism, and that Americans followed many paths toward political, religious, scientific, and artistic enlightenment in the 1700s that were influenced by European models in more complex ways than commonly thought. Winterer’s book strips away our modern inventions of the American national past, exploring which of our ideas and ideals are truly rooted in the eighteenth century and which are inventions and mystifications of more recent times.
The accepted myth of the “American Enlightenment” suggests that the rejection of monarchy and establishment of a new republic in the United States in the eighteenth century was the realization of utopian philosophies born in the intellectual salons of Europe and radiating outward to the New World. In this revelatory work, Stanford historian Caroline Winterer argues that a national mythology of a unitary, patriotic era of enlightenment in America was created during the Cold War to act as a shield against the threat of totalitarianism, and that Americans followed many paths toward political, religious, scientific, and artistic enlightenment in the 1700s that were influenced by European models in more complex ways than commonly thought. Winterer’s book strips away our modern inventions of the American national past, exploring which of our ideas and ideals are truly rooted in the eighteenth century and which are inventions and mystifications of more recent times.
368 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 18, 2020
It is amazing what I did not know about the Enlightenment. Excellent, well-written, highly recommend.
March 10, 2019
A Catholic professor of philosophy under whom I studied at university spoke of "the so-called Enlightenment". Though he was on to something, there were at least several "enlightenments" and we need to read all of them in terms of the use of ideas and the abuse of ideas in applying them to our grasp of history. I am slow to apprehend novel books. I still work on apprehension of this one.
One notable aspect of Professor Winterer's analysis is how enlightenment notions were exploited to abuse, enslave, and dominate people. Much of what she does is show how the American founders and their cohorts used languages of enlightenment often, as I just wrote, exploitatively. Indigenous people, Africans, and European human beings became diminished rather than celebrated and liberated in American Enlightenment. For many advocates of Enlightenment, racism found justification and material support. The spectacle of our founders owning slaves exposes this.
Unless Professor Winterer is writing about contemporary interpreters of the enlightenment, she does not capitalize enlightened or enlightenment but allows for the multiplicity in thinking about these and other core terms. This might be the most balanced and useful book on enlightenment and America I have encountered.
An aside for the moment is how Calvinists assumed a kind of enlightened view of moral law that had human roots rather than merely divine ones. This let them in on using the jargon of Enlightenment.
One notable aspect of Professor Winterer's analysis is how enlightenment notions were exploited to abuse, enslave, and dominate people. Much of what she does is show how the American founders and their cohorts used languages of enlightenment often, as I just wrote, exploitatively. Indigenous people, Africans, and European human beings became diminished rather than celebrated and liberated in American Enlightenment. For many advocates of Enlightenment, racism found justification and material support. The spectacle of our founders owning slaves exposes this.
Unless Professor Winterer is writing about contemporary interpreters of the enlightenment, she does not capitalize enlightened or enlightenment but allows for the multiplicity in thinking about these and other core terms. This might be the most balanced and useful book on enlightenment and America I have encountered.
An aside for the moment is how Calvinists assumed a kind of enlightened view of moral law that had human roots rather than merely divine ones. This let them in on using the jargon of Enlightenment.
October 17, 2023
Before there was “woke” there was being “enlightened” in the 1700’s. Country claimed it and people claimed it as a way to say they don’t just rely on religious dogma for answers, but claims to incorporate all areas of learning to come to a result.
This book highlights the high pursuits of enlightenment I. That period while dealing with the not so nice activities during that time, such as slavery.
This book highlights the high pursuits of enlightenment I. That period while dealing with the not so nice activities during that time, such as slavery.
November 27, 2023
An magnficent read...Dr. Winterer creates a fascinating, easily understandable read, full of convincing arguments, with regard to an era known as the American Enlightenment...I currently take a class with her online, and she adds thirst to your learning through her thought-provoking questions and thoughts...
December 3, 2024
I learned a lot from this book. It was not what I expected when I bought it, but I would definitely recommend it to any person (especially an American of a scientific mindset) who has even a hint of an intellectual streak. A very enjoyable and... Dare I say... "Enlightening" read
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews