tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post6032266752276090809..comments2024-03-28T10:44:30.518-06:00Comments on American Creation: Cosmic ReligionsBrad Harthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17669677047039491864noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-8686875759057172832015-07-05T07:58:58.979-06:002015-07-05T07:58:58.979-06:00The use of the microscope and the telescope in the...The use of the microscope and the telescope in the 17th and 18th centuries opened vast new areas of scientific and philosophic insights, speculations and hypotheses. Prior to the use of instrumentation to expand our sense of scale, multiple worlds were first hypothesized by some ancient philosophers such as Epicurus (see Lucretius’ <i>de rerum Natura</i>) and rested on the such ideas as atomism and the universe as infinite. Giordano Bruno (late 16th century), Pierre Gassendi (17th century), and Leibnitz (late 17th century to early 18th centuries) are a few that dabbled in the “new astronomy” and/or, the “new philosophy.”<br /><br />Ben was a well-read man of his times even at such an early age and against great personal obstacles. This served him well in his latter scientific and philosophic endeavors including his efforts to help found the University of Pennsylvania and as recognized by having been elected the first president of the American Philosophical Society. But Ben wasn’t the only founder to engage these metaphysical speculations. Here are a couple of entries from John Adams diary (1)(2):<br /><br /><i>25. Sunday</i> [April 1756]. <i>Astronomers tell us with good reason, that not only all the planets and satellites in our solar system, but all the unnumbered worlds that revolve round the fixed stars are inhabited, [14] as well as this globe of earth. If this is the case, all mankind are no more in comparison of the whole rational creation of God, than a point to the orbit of Saturn. Perhaps all these different ranks of rational beings have in a greater or less degree committed moral wickedness. If so, I ask a Calvinist whether he will subscribe to this alternative, “Either God Almighty must assume the respective shapes of all these different species and suffer the penalties of their crimes in their stead, or else all these beings must be consigned to everlasting perdition?” </i>(1)<br /><br /><i>26. Monday</i> [April 1756]. <i>The reflection that I penned yesterday appears upon the revision to be weak enough. For first, we know not that the inhabitants of other globes have sinned. Nothing can be argued in this manner till it is proved at least probable that all these species of rational beings have revolted from their rightful Sovereign. When I examine the little prospect that lies before me, and find an infinite variety of bodies in one horizon of, perhaps, two miles diameter, how many millions of such prospects there are upon the surface of this earth, how many millions of globes there are within our view, each of which has as many of these prospects upon its own surface as our planet; great and marvellous are thy works! &c. </i>(2)<br /><br />1) John Adams, The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations, by his Grandson Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1856). 10 volumes. Vol. 2. 7/5/2015. <br />http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/2100#Adams_1431-02_55<br /><br />2) John Adams, The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States: with a Life of the Author, Notes and Illustrations, by his Grandson Charles Francis Adams (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1856). 10 volumes. Vol. 2. 7/5/2015. <br />http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/2100#Adams_1431-02_56<br />jimmiraybobnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1237087217187172116.post-38888990797050871372015-07-02T02:11:52.595-06:002015-07-02T02:11:52.595-06:00Franklin was born in 1705, and what he wrote in 17...Franklin was born in 1705, and what he wrote in 1728 at 23...?<br /><br />I dunno. I wouldn't hold him to it, esp since he didn't die until 68 years later. Me, I barely remember what I had for breakfast, let alone what I said 68 years ago, which I didn't because I'm not.<br /><br />Tom Van Dykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07121072404143877596noreply@blogger.com