Rare book collection on display at Stanford University

San Jose Mercury News / mercurynews.com ^ | Posted: 02/19/2011 03:57:18 PM PST | By Lisa M. Krieger

[thecodont]

Over hundreds of years, and thousands of miles, a collection of rare historic books now on display at Stanford University bristles with an excitement as fresh as yesterday.

The collection, "The American Enlightenment: Treasures from the Stanford University Libraries," offers a glimpse of transatlantic intellectual debates triggered by the discovery of the New World, contributing to the revolutionary experiment that created our nation.

Could a perfect new government -- uncorrupted by European degeneracy and disorder-- be created?

Were the American Indians "the fundamental state of nature" of all human societies? How should children be raised? Was slavery immoral? What were these exotic plants and animals? Some books even touch on fashion, art and home decor.

Never before viewed by the public, stored behind lock and key in Stanford's deep archives, all 40 books, manuscripts and illustrations relate to this founding era of 18th-century American history. Several books are unique "association copies," books owned and signed by famous Americans.

"When we think of the revolutionaries, we think of political events and focus on political documents, such as the Constitution and Declaration of Independence," said Caroline Winterer, the exhibit's curator and a Stanford professor of American history.

"But what this exhibit shows is a wonderful intellectual exploration of the New World -- in every direction," she said. "There were big ideas about human progress that extended to all realms."

[thecodont]

Ping.

[hinckley buzzard]

Were the American Indians "the fundamental state of nature" of all human societies?

This ridiculous idea was very popular in the French enlightenment and to a lesser degree the British enlightenment, giving birth to the myth of "the noble savage." It was lampooned by Alexander Pope and other more realistic observers, but survives today in the rabbit warrens of gray ponytailed idiot children of the Left.

[SunkenCiv]

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[Clintonfatigued]

Not a schooling issue, but this collection of books may be intersting to homeschooling parents who want their children to learn about America’s founding from authentic sources.

[Beowulf9]

“Was slavery immoral?”

In regards to the American Enlightenment, it depends on what part of the country you live in.

For most of America the answer is a resounding ‘yes’. But in San Francisco it is considered an alternative lifestyle and one practicing this is considered highly enlightened.