Thomas Jefferson: Constructing A Bridge To The eighteenth Century Essay, Research Paper

Of all the clip periods of civilisation known to adult male, how can one determine which epoch was the most successful in their

beliefs and accomplishments? Which was the most powerful and positively developing? Looking at and analyzing the yesteryear can

aid derive an rational cognition of the most of import aims and constructs of that clip. In many epochs, new thoughts

and ways of life were formed. For illustration, the work forces of the 5th century came near to contriving what is now called

scientific discipline while besides developing the atomic theory of affair. In Medieval times, a relationship with God and nature was

defined while maintaining a theocratic position on engineering. In the 20th century, the fascism, Nazism, and communism

constructs were quickly distributing. But of all these clip periods, the 21st century differs the most. As we

approached the new millenary, new finds advanced faster than anyone had of all time imagined. With engineering

turning, innovations such as the microwave oven, telecasting, picture games, computing machines, etc. , have become more popular than

of all time. Is this the counsel we need in order to be prepared to take ourselves to the hereafter? Not harmonizing to Dr. Neil

Postman of New York University. He believes that the enlargement of engineering is being abused and that our hereafter is

headed in a way that can go unmanageable. Looking in front means happening utile thoughts from the yesteryear in order to

direct our adaptable hereafter.

Harmonizing to Dr. Postman, the most talented heads developed in the 18th century, during the Age of

Enlightenment. This was a century of Voltaire, Adam Smith, Thomas Payne, John Adams, Ben Franklin, and Thomas

Jefferson. Intellectual power, honestness and bravery were the traits of the most talented minds. Four thoughts were drawn by

Dr. Postman from this of import epoch that he believes will assist steer us into the hereafter. The importance of linguistic communication, the usage

of engineering, the usage of our cognition, and the alterations in the significance of democracy can all be drawn from the

18th century.

In the 18th century, thoughts of political and spiritual freedom, instruction, the state province, advancement and

felicity were developed in portion by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson represents everything of his clip, so the eighteenth

century could besides be called the Age of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson made no theoretical find of importance, but his

scope was without bound. He was a political scientist, linguist, designer, discoverer, philosopher, author, husbandman, and, above all,

apostle of ground, taking ground over superstitious notion. The 18th century was considered the beginnings of the modern

universe, which is a utile part for our hereafter due to the assurance in power of linguistic communication. There was much needed

accent on lucidity by philosophers and scientists so humanity could derive an penetration on how the universe works. While many

positive thoughts developed in this century, such as the 1s listed above, cold beliefs besides existed. The combustion of enchantresss,

kid labour, bondage in America, the subjugation of adult females, equal rights, etc. , were merely some of the issues that created

contentions. These issues generated statements that made them indefensible in the heads of many Americans. In order

to come on, linguistic communication was used in these state of affairss to do via medias and smooth out any issues that had to be resolved.

The 18th century besides marks the great enlargement of the function of instruction distributing throughout the state.

There was more of a focal point on reading and authorship, and one & # 8217 ; s rational ability and point of views, than of all time earlier. A new

universe of communicating was organizing, and the people who were involved were educated persons that adjusted to the usage

of pen, paper, and book. Most of the American population had many desires and necessities, such as belongings and vote

rights, accessible and low-cost trading, protection from the authorities, and a federal or province bank in order to be granted

loans for a mortgage. All of these issues require instruction in the linguistic communication. Knowing how to read and compose, and to be able

to talk in a professional sounding mode were all of import if an sentiment on a certain issue needed to be heard. The

importance of linguistic communication was lifting, and this was one topic that cipher could overlook without being left buttocks.

Thomas Jefferson believed in human advancement, but he did non believe that human advancement included technological

alterations. He was against the growing of industrialism and he wanted the United States to stay a society of little

independent husbandmans. Many political leaders wanted to commercialize and centralise the state, such as Alexander

Hamilton, making the growing of metropoliss and mills, and this Jefferson feared. The rise of mills made many workers

useless since machines were able to finish the occupation. These workers became despairing and their manner of life changed due

to engineering

. Technology affected the American industry in about every field, and minor alterations were being made

invariably. Of class the growing of industry required certain technological progresss and the development of a new type of

concern organisation, but the industrial revolution in America came excessively rapidly. Technology readjusted the states

economic system in many positive ways, but a certain distance should be kept. Dr. Postman believes Americans could be able to

usage engineering without mistreating people by dividing the good from the useless.

The Communications Revolution brought the terminal of the Enlightenment. More and more newspapers, booklets,

and books were developing and going available to many people. Literacy became the key to citizenship in the United

States. In the 18th century, information was non considered utile, and it surely was non an plus to democratic

procedures and advancement. The term & # 8220 ; myth information & # 8221 ; was brought up by Dr. Postman, which he defined as non enough

information. Giving oneself to information peers arrant bunk. Issues such as offense, famishment, maltreatment, and bad

instruction have nil to make with deficient information, harmonizing to Dr. Postman. Americans must be able to

differentiate information and cognition. One must oppugn, work and research, and verify certain information, which

determines whether it is useless or if it is really good cognition.

Many alterations occurred in the 18th century, some of which could be attributed to engineering. During this

clip period, the full state was baffled with the thoughts of industrialism versus agribusiness. In the 1820 & # 8217 ; s, the state was

still overpoweringly agricultural, but new ways of bring forthing goods and doing a life began to take topographic point and an industry

was created. Many Americans shifted towards industry, which caused America & # 8217 ; s industrial revolution, which was slow in

coming. Advancing in engineering alterations the full significance of democracy and Americans need to cognize what changes to

support and what alterations to defy.

The 18th century, although full of many utile and productive beliefs and constructs, can non give us all the

replies covering with where to look for counsel for the hereafter. Dr. Postman is non saying that the United States today

should go the 18th century, but merely that we should utilize it for what it & # 8217 ; s worth. The Age of Enlightenment

contained the most originative minds who were able to develop thoughts for their ain epoch which should animate people of

today & # 8217 ; s universe. Thomas Jefferson, considered one of the most talented heads and person who represents everything of his

clip, did non believe that engineering was most of import. In fact, he felt that engineering abused people and that a distance

should be kept from it. Some of the chief thoughts that came from this century is what Dr. Postman believes should be used

today to assist steer our state into the hereafter. He feels that reexamining the yesteryear for utile and productive thoughts could assist

take the United States in a better way towards our hereafter. From the thoughts of the 18th century, Dr. Postman came

to the decision that the usage of linguistic communication should go of more importance chiefly by concentrating on reading and authorship,

that a certain distance should be kept from engineering, and we should larn non to mistreat it, that there should be an

apprehension of the differences between cognition and information, and eventually that engineering could alter the full

significance of democracy. These constructs are believed to be helpful and utile as we prepare to near the hereafter in a

different mode.

Dr. Neil Postman in the terminal believed that the ways of the 18th century are uncomparable to any other epochs

known to adult male. He feels we need to look in front, but by stating & # 8220 ; look in front, & # 8221 ; he means expression into the past for thoughts for our

hereafter. The 18th century was surely a clip period good known in history and the most of import because it is the

beginning of the development of the United States. Technology seems to be taking over. It will one twenty-four hours rule the

universe when people no longer hold any control of the state of affairs. But people must larn to divide the good engineering from

the useless, and this is what Dr. Postman believes every bit good. The subject that he spoke about, Constructing a Bridge to the

Eighteenth Century, and how the United States must construct a span non from the past, but to the yesteryear, interested me a

great trade. It was a subject ne’er truly discussed in the schoolroom because it covers two issues, jobs in the hereafter with

solutions from the yesteryear. Dr. Postman was a really exceeding and rational talker. While maintaining the audiences

attending, he besides delivered a talk with interesting yet controversial facets. Ideas from our highly important yesteryear

should decidedly be used when the United States needs counsel for the hereafter and engineering is one that should non be

overused, for our hereafter could take to catastrophe.