Science and the founding fathers
Subtitle: science in the political thought of Jefferson, Franklin, Adams and Madison
By: I. Bernard Cohen.
Edition: 1st ed.
Publisher: W.W. Norton
Published: 1995
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 368
Subjects: Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790; Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826; Madison, James, 1751-1836; Adams, John, 1735-1826; Political science -- United States -- History -- 18th century; Science -- United States -- History -- 18th century
Description: America's founding fathers were remarkably well-rounded people, not least in their understanding of science. Thomas Jefferson was the only president who could read and understand Newton's Principia. Benjamin Franklin, in 1775, held international fame in science. John Adams had the finest education in science the new country could provide, including "Pnewmaticks, Hydrostaticks, Mechanicks, Staticks, Opticks.".

And James Madison, chief architect of the Constitution, peppered his Federalist Papers with reference to physics, chemistry, and the life sciences.

For these men science was an integral part of life - including political life. This is the story of their scientific education and of how they employed that knowledge in shaping the political issues of the day, incorporating scientific reasoning into the Constitution.

General readers, students of American history, and professional historians alike will profit from reading this engaging presentation of an aspect of American history conspiculously absent from the usual textbooks and popular presentations of the political thought of this crucial period.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 315-353) and index.