Synopses & Reviews
Although Thomas Jefferson's status as a champion of education iswidely known, the essays in Light and Libertymake clear that his efforts to enlighten fellow citizens reflected not only a loveof learning but also a love of freedom. Using as a starting point Jefferson'sconviction that knowledge is the basis of republican self-government, thecontributors examine his educational projects not as disparate attempts to advanceknowledge for its own sake but instead as a result of his unyielding, almostobsessive desire to bolster Americans' republican virtues andvalues.
Whether by establishing schools or through broader, extra-institutional efforts to disseminate knowledge, Jefferson's endeavors embracedhis vision for a dynamic and meritocratic America. He aimed not only to provideAmericans with the ability to govern themselves and participate in the government ofothers but also to influence Americans to remake their society in accordance withhis own principles.
Written in clear and accessible prose, Light and Liberty reveals the startling diversityof Jefferson's attempts to rid citizens of the ignorance and vice that, in the viewof Jefferson and many contemporaries, had corroded and corrupted once-greatcivilizations. Never wavering from his faith that knowledge ispower, Jefferson embraced an expansive understanding of education as thefoundation for a republic of free and responsible individuals who understood theirrights and stood ready to defend them.