The Rationalist

At the time of the birth of the American colonies Puritanism, along with other fledgling religions were a key to politicaly govern the people of the new found continent. As time progressed people showed less respect for the practices of the Puritans. This was reflected by lack of prayer, excessive sleep, drink, sexual scandals, and other various activities puritans were supposed to refrain from engaging in. As time progressed the colonies and cities within them expanded as did the people’s ideas of independence. Independence from their religions and a newfound self-dependence by using their own logic to govern their way of life and conduct themselves in society. The rationalists were still very religious people as any one in that day and age was. What made them different was their instinctive nature to take matters of importance into consideration of their own instead of depending on the word of the bible.

I think Benjamin Franklin made a good rationalist because of his keen sense of observation. He was never with out some insight as to how he or those around him appeared to be. He is very honest as to his appearances even if they weren’t his best at the time. I think the basis for his rationality was honesty, and to perceive things as honestly as possible can lead to a very accurate impression of many different situations. Franklin also used a good deal of self-reflection to steer his course through life. Always maintaining an accurate portrait of one’s self is important for one to use their ration logically and in the correct manor. I come to this conclusion due to supporting text from Franklin’s autobiography in two cases where he reflects upon himself and how he would appear. "I was in my working dress, my best clothes being to come round by sea. I was dirty from my journey; my pockets were stuffed out with shirts and stockings; I knew no soul, nor where to look for lodging." This is a self-observation Franklin has when he first arrives in Philadelphia with no work and little money. I’m sure he thought over his appearance and accordingly set his manor to reflect a good mannered person. On that first day in Philadelphia he paid passage on a boat that offered him passage for free for his rowing, but he paid anyway. He also bought and gave bread to a mother and her child who had been on the boat. I think he came to the conclusion that one must reflect a good sense of charity and good will, especially when it seems they should have no charity and little to give to create an image of goodwill.

Patience: Rush not to haste. What one does on the current day reflects the day and every day after.

Good-willing: Treat all and any with friendship to expect friendship. Treat any or all without friendship and expect none in return.

Truthfulness: Be honest to those you deal with. Be honest with others to be honest with yourself.

Justice: Up keep a justice for those who have been treated unjust.

Mercy: Spare those that would redeem themselves.

Dutifulness: Be faithful to yourself, your admiration, and fellow people.

Tenacity: Stick to your chosen path and take it’s course as it comes to the best of your abilities.

Gravity: Keep your mind on the task at hand and do not be distracted by other elements.

Wholesomeness: Keep a healthy and clean livelihood. Maintain a healthy attitude to keep this in line.

Sternness: Keep a firm sense of self-control. Do not be lead astray by wants.

Industriousness: Maintain a hard work ethic. Do not become idle in your workings.

Respectability: Maintain a relationship of respect between yourself and all peers. One bad
reflection of your respectability and all will see.

Prudence: Foresee the reactions of others. Use your actions to the wisest degree to their reactions.

Moral perfection is many people's goal in life. I think living a strict and continuos life style in the manner one sees fit for themselves will only merely guide them in that direction. I think the actual acceptance of moral perfection comes from the perception of others regarding one’s life and its practice. The actions one produces in his or her life reflect their virtues and sense of judgement to the eyes of their peers. I believe because of this that in many cases people achieve moral perfection but also are seen as a person of little or no character based on the past history with those one would meet in life.

I have convinced myself that one’s path of moral perfection in life is based on their own reflection of their values and the judgements of their peers on their lifestyle. I think that by placing judgement on other’s ways of life, one would find themselves less of candidates for moral perfection. To place judgement on another and allow its reflection you see to create a sense of poor thought of the other would lead to one disregarding their own moral ambitions and instead cloud their path with a calling to pass more judgements. In the passing of any judgement one would become less understanding to people’s individuals motives and reasons. I think that a rationalist would not only pass judgement but also take in reflections of the individual to try and guess their reasons and motives.

Rationalism came into play at a very important time for the American colonies. The revolution began and succeeded within this era and allowed many doors to be opened for the future of the colonies and the world. Rationalist wanted to create a world that would be less oppressive than the one they had all known and come from. They wanted to determine the laws to be the best possible from a rational view. I suppose looking back at the actions of the founding fathers people could say that they were rational, rational as rich old white people can be in a situation where all the power has been placed in their midst. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." This is one of the most important phrases in the constitution of our nation. It shows a very rational thought they the founding fathers could say everyone could relate to in a rational sense. For example we all have the unalienable right to pursue happiness, no matter what that is, such as the founding fathers pursued their happiness by writing a constitution that a nation would be governed by, and field slaves pursued their happiness by working in the fields...that were owned by the founding fathers and their friends. These unalienable rights are what forged peoples burning desire to achieve their goals in the American fashion.

The founding fathers were full of ration in the interest of the nation....mainly its landowners. They broke down every part of life and way of living rationally. For example, they explained the relationship between a government and the people it represents and its reflected in the constitution as "That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." This is a very standard and descriptive format to how a government operates and more essentially claiming its power.

With such a profound statement being made after such a shocking victory in a guerilla war fare style revolution it is not a surprise that the founding fathers used their ration to determine what should happen to a government that oppresses its people with heavy burdens. "That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness." They concluded that if and when a nation's populace found itself in a position under its government its majority public was opposed to, the government should be dismantled by any means necessary, force if it comes to it.