Nature's God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic
Overview
Uncover the radical ideas behind American democracy in a thoughtful discussion for curious readers who love philosophy and history.
Details
This is the first of several meetings on Nature's God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic, by Matthew Stewart. For this meeting, please try to read the first three chapters (pages 1-129 in the paperback).
Where did the ideas come from that became the cornerstone of American democracy?
America’s founders intended to liberate us not just from one king but from the ghostly tyranny of supernatural religion. Drawing deeply on the study of European philosophy, Matthew Stewart brilliantly tracks the ancient, pagan, and continental ideas from which America’s revolutionaries drew their inspiration. In the writings of Spinoza, Lucretius, and other great philosophers, Stewart recovers the true meanings of “Nature’s God,” “the pursuit of happiness,” and the radical political theory with which the American experiment in self-government began.
LINK
I hope to see you there!
Fred