Who would I recommend the First Principles to?

“Public Virtue cannot exist in a Nation without private, and public Virtue is the only Founsation of Republics. There must be apositive Passion for the public good, the public Interest, Honour, Power, and Glory, established in the Minds of the People, or there can be no Republican Government, nor...

Revolutionary Americans considered that Rome had achieved the greatest level a state can hope for. Washington, a military genius, identified with Cato, a figure known for their virtue and for not giving in to the aristocracy, but rather fighting against corruption.

Washington strived to bec...

Regardless of the extent to which these ideas influenced our founders, First Principles prove that they had an undeniable impact on the formation of our republic.

It is no secret that ancient civilizations deeply influenced America’s founding fathers when creating their own country’s system...

• Washington’s education was deeply rooted in Roman ideologies.
• Greek philosophers also influenced American thinkers.
• Classicism and the idea of virtue slowly died as Americans sought freedom for all.

Now, let’s explore these lessons in depth and learn more about ...

The founders believed that the democratic form of government found in ancient Greece and Rome was an ideal model for America, which had just broken free from Great Britain. They also wanted to ensure that the United States would be able to withstand any future threats from European powers.

Jefferson, Washington, J. Adams and many others looked for inspiration in these ancient European states. Jefferson, in particular, was a fan of Epicurus, Euripides, and many other Greek philosophers that shaped his way of thinking.

In fact, Epicurus had a vision of life that Jefferson share...

The early nineteenth century marked a time of great change in American culture. The Enlightenment gave way to Romanticism, and classicism was replaced by a rather rational way of viewing things.

This shift in cultural focus was reflected in the principles that guided the people and their r...

The masses were seeking more rational views of the world and free land. People also began to view slavery as a ridiculous concept compared to the American principle of freedom for all.

As reason and rationality gave way to emotion in the nineteenth century, classicism slowly died out of fas...

The book manages to examine how America’s Founding Fathers used classical philosophy in their own political theory. The essays address topics such as Jefferson’s views on slavery, Washington’s influence on economic policy, and Adams’ role in shaping foreign policy.

It is often the Greek philosophy and the Greek thinkers that occupy the first spots in any history debate or at an elite table. Greek ideologies shaped the world as we know it, paved the way for democracy, and shaped ideologies forever.

However, Roman philosophers and their culture also ha...

First Principles delves into the history of American evolution and highlights how the parents of modern thinking were inspired by Roman and Greek philosophy in their mindset, military actions, views of the world, and many more.

The influence of Greek and Roman political thought on America i...