Identifying the American incognitum: A Rhetorical Analysis of the Science, Religion, and American Identity of the Early Republic

Identifier

2436

Author

Sarah Mosher

Date

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

English

Concentration

Composition Studies

Committee Member

Darryl Domingo

Abstract

The science of paleontology developed alongside the emergence of the nation. The paleontological writings of the early relublic, which focused on identifying the mammoth and the mastodon, included more than their scientific contributions. The methods for this thesis include the use of a generative rhetorical analysis on eight paleontological writings published between 1767-1799 by the Royal Society of London, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Philosophical Society. This thesis reveals the presence of eighteenth century religious conflicts with science, the rhetorical techniques of the naturalists, and aspects of the American spirit found in the development of a national identity.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

Recommended Citation

Mosher, Sarah, "Identifying the American incognitum: A Rhetorical Analysis of the Science, Religion, and American Identity of the Early Republic" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1218.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/1218