美国文学之 Jonathan Edwards Benjamin Franklin.pptVIP

Lecture Two Jonathan Edwards Benjamin Franklin (Crevecoeur) patterns of American thinking in the 18th century Newton’s Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy (1687) John Locke’s Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) Rousseau’s Social Contract(1762) The proper study of mankind is man___Alexander Pope persistent Calvinist beliefs: original sin, predestination, etc. Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) the first modern American and the country’s last medieval man Life Experiences(1703-1758) In 1716, at the age of 13, admitted to Yale, graduated four years later In 1723, took his M.A. in Yale In 1729, after 3 years assistant to his grandfather, named to be the minister of the church of Northampton Instrumental in bringing about the “Great Awakening” from1730s to 1740s Died of a smallpox inoculation in 1758 “never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way” Major Works The Freedom of the Will(1754) The Great Doctrine of original Sin Defended(1758) The Nature of True Virtue (1765) Personal Narrative Images or Shadows of Divine Thing All he was trying to do was to restore to his congregation and to his readers the original sense of religious commitment. Edwards’ double identities reflected in his works as the first modern American: trying to reconciling Puritan ideas with the new rationalism of John Lock (knowledge is empirical, its sources being the sense) and Newton’s mechanical view of the universe as the last medieval man: (1) “I have had a…constant sense of the absolute sovereignty of God” 1) Doctrine of inward communication of soul with God (Personal Narrative Jan.12, 1723) as the last medieval man: (2) 2) belief in the regeneration of man; urging his people to enjoy “conversion” with the help of God (“sinners were always exposed to sudden unexpected destruction”) 3) doctrine of the immanence of God in nature (Images or Shadows of Divine Things) Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) Symbol of America in the Age of Enlightenment L