The New World

What I find most interesting in this introduction to scientific experimentation and the Age of Enlightenment is the role of the New World. In both the introduction to "American Curiosity" by Parrish and "New Atlantis" by Bacon, the New World is the center of ideal scientific discovery. I contend that it is not a coincidence that the United States of America leads the world in scientific discovery today, but rather a natural development from the circumstances of the New World's discovery by Europeans.

While Europe was more technologically advanced and scientifically innovative than the Americas during the 15th and 16th centuries, America had a distinct advantage in the world of empiricism. Western Europeans viewed the New World as a land of savages to be conquered and experimented with. The great wealth of resources, untouched by mankind previously, was seen as possession of the European explorers by divine right. However, this willingness to experiment on the sub-human life forms and nature actually jump-started the introduction of empirical science in the Americas. In "American Curiosity" it is this mindset that inspires natives, and slaves to learn and accept both science and experimentation at a remarkable rate. Bacon argues in "New Atlantis" that the isolation presented by the oceans, in addition to the great wealth of natural resources allows for the development of a utopian culture based on scientific knowledge of the world.

Furthermore, I believe that because the settlers came to the New World with the intention of discovering new species of plant and animal, that America was destined to become home to innovative science, brash experimentation, and creative use of natural resources. Just as the early settlers influenced the US's position as a haven of religious and political freedom, similarly the early intentions of explorers created the ideal country for the development of science and technology.