The Age Enlightenment

[truth_seeker]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment

Many of the intellectuals that gave rise to America's Founding are among the people. discussed in this Wiki article.

[Absalom]

Indeed the French Enlightenment's political ideas were pervasive across Europe w/ the
critical exception being Great Britain.
As a consequence, those ideas never fertilized during the formative years of our Republic;
for the simple reason that our heritage/legacy, despite out revolt, was the product of
English Common Law developed over the centuries since Magna Carta.

[roamer_1]

Indeed the French Enlightenment's political ideas were pervasive across Europe w/ the
critical exception being Great Britain.
As a consequence, those ideas never fertilized during the formative years of our Republic;
for the simple reason that our heritage/legacy, despite out revolt, was the product of
English Common Law developed over the centuries since Magna Carta.

That's right... There were TWO enlightenments rising up side by side... Culminating in two similar but separate doctrines being lifted up in the eyes of man, almost in the same breath... One being the French Rights of Man, and the other being the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. The difference split the West asunder... One becoming socialism/communism, destroying the lives of many, and the other being the most wonderful liberty Man has ever known.

What a difference a concept makes... One determined rights for people assigned by Man, the other determined that those rights were endowed by our Creator, removing those rights to an Higher court than any man can preside over. One determining that government was formed to assign those rights, the other that governments are formed to protect those rights.

An amazing 'minutia' that has a tremendous butterfly effect.

[Sighlass]

Thank you gang for helping me see things a little clearer...

[Absalom]

That's right... There were TWO enlightenments rising up side by side... Culminating in two similar but separate doctrines being lifted up in the eyes of man, almost in the same breath... One being the French Rights of Man, and the other being the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America. The difference split the West asunder... One becoming socialism/communism, destroying the lives of many, and the other being the most wonderful liberty Man has ever known.
What a difference a concept makes... One determined rights for people assigned by Man, the other determined that those rights were endowed by our Creator, removing those rights to an Higher court than any man can preside over. One determining that government was formed to assign those rights, the other that governments are formed to protect those rights.
An amazing 'minutia' that has a tremendous butterfly effect.

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Roamer, on the mark per usual.
A you surely know the French Enlightenment birthed the notions of Rousseau and Voltaire,
then culminated in the revolutionary behavior of Danton, Marat, Robespierre and Saint-Just.
In contrast, because of the cultural/societal norms they were born with; Adams, Franklin,
Hancock, Hamilton, Jefferson and Madison never succumbed to the revolutionary fevers in France!
Next time some poster rages about the debt Mankind owes to the French, remind him of this.
Stay well.

[roamer_1]

----------------------
Roamer, on the mark per usual.
A you surely know the French Enlightenment birthed the notions of Rousseau and Voltaire,
then culminated in the revolutionary behavior of Danton, Marat, Robespierre and Saint-Just.
In contrast, because of the cultural/societal norms they were born with; Adams, Franklin,
Hancock, Hamilton, Jefferson and Madison never succumbed to the revolutionary fevers in France!
Next time some poster rages about the debt Mankind owes to the French, remind him of this.
Stay well.

It is the strangest thing... Starting way back in the wells of time in the Celto-Saxon Common Law... Fortified by the Magna Carta, and the rise of a middle class, injected with the Romantic notions of honor from Aragon and The Languadoc (driven out by the 'Franks", to Brittany and on to Britain)... Salted with a heavy dose of Protestantism and the work ethic  born of those hardy folk... ALL REJECTED and born before the storm, ever swirling and nearly snuffed out so many times, only to find solace and rest on these fair shores...

If there is ever an evidence that the Father above designed our founding, an establishment of manifest destiny, it is surely found in that.

You stay well too. 

[Absalom]

Thank you gang for helping me see things a little clearer...

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If you're interested in the concept of national legacy/heritage, suggest
you investigate the "Roots of American Order' by Russell Kirk in which
he traces our lineage from Greece, Rome and the British Empire.