Thinking Like Our Founders
By Debbie Wuthnow
Reprinted from the iVoterGuide website — Grounded in God, Rooted in Research
What Did the Founders Study?
Our Founding Fathers. We mention them often and are in awe of the wisdom God gave them to lay the framework for our nation. We know that they were grounded in the knowledge of the Bible, but what other learning gave them the unique ability to devise and discuss the plans that shaped our nation? And how can we gain insight from what they studied?
Let’s take a look at some of the categories of knowledge that they possessed.
-
Religious Texts: The Bible (especially the King James Version) played a huge role not only in their moral and ethical instruction but also in the way they viewed human nature and the role of government. In fact, the Bible was one of the most frequently referenced documents around the time of America’s founding. We can see the reflection of Scripture throughout our founding documents, from the Declaration of Independence’s “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights” to the very concept of the sin nature of man (Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:23) which requires limits on power.
-
Classical Languages and Literature: Many studied Latin and Greek, reading works by ancient authors which helped them understand rhetoric, philosophy, and history.
-
Philosophy and Political Theory: Works by authors such as Cicero, Plato, Aristotle, Virgil, and Voltaire were fundamental in understanding concepts of governance, virtue, reason, and civic duty. Jefferson’s “we hold these truths to be self-evident” echoes Cicero’s belief in natural law, and we can see Aristotle’s belief that “the rule of law is preferable to that of any individual” throughout the Constitution. Specifically in Article VI, Clause 2, we see “This Constitution, and the laws of the United States . . . shall be the supreme law of the land.” Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau heavily influenced their ideas about government, liberty, and society.
-
John Locke’s Two Treatises of Government provided ideas about natural rights and the social contract.
-
Montesquieu’s Spirit of the Laws offered influential thoughts on the separation of powers.
-
Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Social Contract contributed ideas about popular sovereignty and the will of the people.
-
-
Law and Governance: Many studied British legal texts and historical accounts that informed their understanding of governance and law.
-
Pamphlets like Thomas Paine’s Common Sense were widely read during the revolutionary period and stirred public sentiment toward independence.
-
William Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England gave us the “laws of nature and of nature’s God” found in the opening of the Declaration of Independence.
-
-
Mathematics and Natural Sciences: A well-rounded education also included the basics of mathematics and natural sciences, which were important for understanding the world and fostering innovation. The growing body of scientific literature in the 18th century also influenced their thinking, with figures like Benjamin Franklin delving into natural philosophy and practical science.
The broad, interdisciplinary education they received was crucial in shaping the philosophical and practical foundations of the United States. But it wasn’t just what they studied but the way they were taught to think through issues that molded their ability to debate, to discuss, to ask questions, and to make sound decisions. The emphasis was on understanding the perspectives of others and discussion instead of reacting to unfamiliar ideas based on emotion.
The Socratic method was often used. We’ll talk about this more later in an email about critical thinking, but the method relies heavily on asking questions and having deep, probing dialogue. The goal is to not only challenge assumptions but also to encourage individuals to articulate their reasoning, justify their claims, and often refine their own understanding of a topic.
So, what lessons can we take from the Founders,
and are any applicable today?
I’m not sure I want to go around reading Voltaire and Virgil, but I could definitely learn more about philosophy, governance, virtue, and reason. We’ll be going through each of George Washington’s “Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior” on our social media channels, so maybe checking those out would be a good start. What other ways can you think of to acquaint (or re-acquaint) ourselves with philosophy and reasoning?
As we discussed earlier this year, both our ideology and our Judeo-Christian faith are strengthened by staying in the Bible and through scripture memorization.
Another great lesson is to read and discuss subjects that aren’t usually in your wheelhouse . . . or even from your own point of view! Find a friend, colleague, or acquaintance with whom it’s safe to question and reason and refine your thinking. (Don’t forget about our tips for civil engagement!) Don’t stay inside your comfort zone . . . the Founders certainly didn’t. They knew that “those who cannot remember the past are bound to repeat it.”
As voters, how can we think more like the Founders thought?
iVoterGuide offers a few resources to get us thinking. First, we offer our questionnaires for voters to look through. So, even if the candidates don’t answer the questions, you can take a look through those to get an idea of the wide range of issues important to conservatives. Are there some on which you could become more informed?
We’ve also put together some discussion prompts to help you talk through the questions and even bring them up with your children for conversation. They help you take a look at each of the questions and think through the various aspects of the underlying ideology. Those are also covered every Tuesday on our social media under the “Dinner Bell,” so you can take a look there if it’s easier for you.
Finally, stay tuned throughout 2025 as we discuss issues like separation of church and state, checks and balances, federalism vs. anti-federalism, free market economics, and more.
I hope you enjoy this journey as much as I do!
Leave A Comment