The Enlightenment and the Origins of European Australia [Paperback]

This book surveys some of the key intellectual influences in the formation of Australian society.This book surveys some of the key intellectual influences in the formation of Australian society by emphasising the impact of the Enlightenment with its commitment to rational enquiry and progress. The first part of the book analyses the political and religious background of the period from the First Fleet (1788) to the mid nineteenth century. The second demonstrates the pervasiveness of ideas of improvement across a range of human endeavours, from agriculture to education, penal discipline and race relations.This book surveys some of the key intellectual influences in the formation of Australian society by emphasising the impact of the Enlightenment with its commitment to rational enquiry and progress. The first part of the book analyses the political and religious background of the period from the First Fleet (1788) to the mid nineteenth century. The second demonstrates the pervasiveness of ideas of improvement across a range of human endeavours, from agriculture to education, penal discipline and race relations.This book surveys some of the key intellectual influences in the formation of Australian society by emphasizing the impact of the Enlightenment, with its commitment to rational inquiry and progress. The first part analyzes the political and religious background of the period from the First Fleet (1788) to the mid-nineteenth century. The second demonstrates the pervasiveness of ideas of improvement across a range of human endeavors, from agriculture to education, penal discipline and race relations. Throughout, the book highlights the extent to which developments in Australia can be compared with those in Britain and the U.S.List of illustrations; Abbreviations; Preface and Acknowledgements; 1. Introduction; Part I. Contexts: 2. Religion; 3. Politics; Part II. The Possibilities of Improvement: 4. The earth and its fruits; 5. Science and the land; 6. CultivationlCD