The Lost World of Thomas Jefferson
9780226064970
The Lost World of Thomas Jefferson
In this classic work by one of America’s most distinguished historians, Daniel Boorstin enters into Thomas Jefferson’s world of ideas. By analysing writings of ’the Jeffersonian Circle,’ Boorstin explores concepts of God, nature, equality, toleration, education and government in order to illuminate their underlying world view. The Lost World of Thomas Jefferson demonstrates why on the 250th anniversary of his birth, this American leader’s message has remained relevant to our national crises and grand concerns.
"The volume is too subtle, too rich in ideas for anyone to do justice to it in brief summary, too heavily documented and too carefully wrought for anyone to dismiss its thesis. . . . It is a major contribution not only to Jefferson studies but to American intellectual history. . . . All who work in the history of ideas will find themselves in Mr. Boorstin’s debt."—Richard Hofstadter, South Atlantic Monthly
"The volume is too subtle, too rich in ideas for anyone to do justice to it in brief summary, too heavily documented and too carefully wrought for anyone to dismiss its thesis. . . . It is a major contribution not only to Jefferson studies but to American intellectual history. . . . All who work in the history of ideas will find themselves in Mr. Boorstin’s debt."—Richard Hofstadter, South Atlantic Monthly
Table of Contents
Preface to the 1993 Edition
Preface
Introduction
1. "The Influence of America on the Mind"
2. The Jeffersonian Circle
1. The Supreme Workman
1. Nature as the Work of Art
2. The Economy of Nature
3. The Apotheosis of Nature
2. The Equality of the Human Species
1. The Adaptability of Man
2. The Dispersion of the Human Species
3. Varieties of Mankind: the Indian and the Negro
4. The Fulfillment of Human Equality
3. The Physiology of Thought and Morals
1. "The made of Action Called Thinking"
2. The Happy Variety of Minds
3. The Perils of Metaphysics
4. The Moral Sense and the Life of Action
5. Jeffersonian Christianity
4. The Natural History of a New Society
1. Natural History and Political Science
2. The Use of Government
3. A Philosophy of Rights
4. The Sovereignty of the President Generation
5. The Quest for Useful Knowledge
Conclusion
1. The Promise of Jeffersonian Thought
2. The God of the Republic
Notes
Index
Preface
Introduction
1. "The Influence of America on the Mind"
2. The Jeffersonian Circle
1. The Supreme Workman
1. Nature as the Work of Art
2. The Economy of Nature
3. The Apotheosis of Nature
2. The Equality of the Human Species
1. The Adaptability of Man
2. The Dispersion of the Human Species
3. Varieties of Mankind: the Indian and the Negro
4. The Fulfillment of Human Equality
3. The Physiology of Thought and Morals
1. "The made of Action Called Thinking"
2. The Happy Variety of Minds
3. The Perils of Metaphysics
4. The Moral Sense and the Life of Action
5. Jeffersonian Christianity
4. The Natural History of a New Society
1. Natural History and Political Science
2. The Use of Government
3. A Philosophy of Rights
4. The Sovereignty of the President Generation
5. The Quest for Useful Knowledge
Conclusion
1. The Promise of Jeffersonian Thought
2. The God of the Republic
Notes
Index