William Penn As Social Philosopher

WILLIAM PENN AS SOCIAL PHILOSOPHER WILLIAM PENN AS SOCIAL PHILOSOPHER EDWARD CORBYN OBERT BEATTY With a Foreword by MARCUS W. JERNEGAN NEW YORK MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS 939 To Anna Wild Beatty Sarah Margaret Beatty And Katharine Hilt Beatty FOREWORD A MERICAN historiography has concerned itself largely with jLthe narration of events rather than of ideas the deeds of groups and leaders, the evolution of institutions, such as political parties, agencies of trade and commerce, churches, and schools. Biographers have generally followed these patterns-thc deeds of their subject and his participation in the stream of events. Comparatively few studies have been made of the ideas of leaders, their political, economic and social theories, or that com plex of their thought on all aspects of life particularly the nature and purpose of the state, the individual in his relation to the con flict between authority and liberty, the ideal distribution of wealth and income, the acceptance or rejection of contemporary habits, customs, and beliefs. From this standpoint most of the biographies of important American leaders are unsatisfactory. While there are numerous studies of Pcnn, this is the first ex tensive analysis of the great Quaker leader which clearly and adequately explains his philosophy of life, his political and social theories, his attitude towards war and peace, his religious and racial views, his notiotis respecting the distribution of wealth and income and his educational theories and plans for humanitarian reforms-in general, Penns social philosophy, This volume well illustrates the transfer of English and Euro pean ideas to America, the modifications made necessaryby the new environment, and the rise of the American way of life Doctor Beatty has made the most thorough and important study of William Penn yet written from this standpoint, MARCUS W, JERNEGAN UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO JUNE 6, 1939 PREFACE nriHIS BOOR is a study of the ideas of William Penn, It is not JL a biography, though biographical details are frequently given to explain or illustrate the mans philosophy. It is not a history of the period, though discussions of political and social phenomena are occasionally included to illuminate the motives and attitudes of one who was in his generation so promi nent a public figure. Research for this study has been limited to Penns theories concerning the multiple relationships of indi viduals in society. His religious beliefs have been given no place except as they throw light upon his ideas of man in purely mun dane concerns. No attempt has been made here to offer a psycho logical analysis of his mental and emotional reactions. This investigation is purely an excursion into the history of social philosophy. For the sake of convenience, Penns social ideas have been studied from three points of view. The first presents him as a po litical theorist and statesman His ideas of the nature and func tion of the state were conceived in an era vitally important to English and American constitutional history, an era absorbed in decisive controversy and rich in the formulation of political theory. Those ideas must have determined to no small degree his social philbsophy. Penns political theories, set forth in an age of expansion by the founder of one of the new commonwealths in a new world, have in themselves an abiding interest Shaped while world empireswere being built and commercial imperialism con trolled the policies of governments, the views of this intimate of English kings assume increased importance. Because they were suggested to a troubled Europe in an age of almost constant in ternational armed strife, the Quaker pacifists theories will have significance for seekers after peace in another era of wars and rumors of war. Much of Penns enormous energy was devoted to x PREFACE the struggle for religious toleration. The effect of this objective upon his philosophy must be estimated...