Just finished teaching a survey theory class and Political Thought of the American Founding side by side, and Jefferson’s claim that “‘that the earth belongs in usufruct to the living;’ that the dead have neither powers nor rights over it” seems… really important.
@PhilipDBunn Jefferson was less overexcited about the French Revolution by the 1810s.
@nnworcester True, but I think this was a principle he held relatively stably throughout his life. The French Revolution didn’t pay off the way he hoped, but he’s perfectly comfortable in 1800 in letters to Priestly complaining about the “gothic” sensibilities of those who look to the past…
@nnworcester For what’s true or perfect in morals and politics. Obviously he thinks there’s value in historical study, but the notion that we owe some kind of duty to those who came before seems contrary to his general view of things.