Original scientific paper
Thomas Jefferson: On "The Harmonization of the Political Sentiments of the Day"
Alan Uzelac
; Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
According to his own words, Jefferson's guideline while composing the American Declaration of Independence was "to harmonize the political sentiments of the day". This text is an attempt to epxlaing the meaning and the underlying tenor of the statement. It focuses on the analysis of the structure of the Declaration, which is both a political and legal text and rooted in the rationalist tradition. Structured as a legal sylogism based on the unfamiliar premises at the time of its compilation, the Declaration anticipates rathern than reflects the then "sentiments of the day" . Thomas Jefferson's greatness rest not only on the Declaration but also on his consistent application of its principles. Thus, the great American president made sure that through the centuries the dominant political and legal paradigm in the world would follow in stipulations to the letter.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
111006
URI
Publication date:
1.6.1994.
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