Thomas Jefferson through his letters to John Adams reveals the strong friendship between the two who were both presidents consecutively. Through the letters, Jefferson explains his views on society by referring to some of Adam’s previous letters. He addresses the aspect of procreation, race, wealth and ambition. Samuel Thompson is also known as the father of American Herbalism, also had his viewpoints on the society that differed from those of Jefferson.
Jefferson begins by referring to Adam’s letter where he claims that the whole piece was on moral exhortation. The reproofs show how man improves his race by employing only the finest males and later intermarry with ugly and old races for the sake of ambition and wealth. He also addresses the inter-procreation of men according to the laws of sanctity and modesty. Jefferson believes that procreation should only be for the purposes of children and not pleasure (Peterson, 23). The purpose of the procreation of children is to keep an uninterrupted and continuous race. Jefferson believes that the aristocratic methods would improve humans because the good and evil values are transmitted from father to son. The aristocratic nature of men was considered on grounds of virtues and talents unlike in the past where bodily powers appeared to give place to the people. The society has changed since the invention of gunpowder where strong men are destroyed by bodily strengths like beauty and good humor. People have also been born into wealth, but lack the virtues and talents to help them with anything in the society except being considered to belong to the first class. Jefferson believes that trust, instruction and government are the only gifts of nature under the natural aristocracy. He also believes that the society should be governed by virtue and wisdom after pure selection of the natural aristos.
Samuel Thomson was a well-known herbalist who invented the use of the Lobelia plant for treatment. His discovery and participation in the health department earned him both friends and enemies as people had different perceptions regarding his treatment method. Thomson considered the society as a botanical garden where he would gather wild plants and use them for medicinal purposes. Through his practice, he faced many challenges as a result of societal uproar regarding his treatment. He faced charges of killing a patient, Ezra Lovett after Lovett’s father filed charges. The society had also laid down laws known as the ‘Black Laws’ that had restricted the practice of unconventional medicine (Malstrom, 281). Since Thomson was an African American, society had labeled him as an unconventional medical practitioner. Thomson ensured that the people in the society would not claim patency on his findings and medical discoveries. However, modern medics have critiqued his procedures claiming that Thomson should have been more socially involved with other doctors for better findings. The Thomsonian practice has been used even in the modern day study of medicine despite the societal challenges he faced in the past.
Therefore, Jefferson and Thomson both viewed the society in different ways; where Jefferson considered the many aspects such as race, procreation and wealth while Thomson only considered the health and botanical nature. Thomson view of the society is the influence an individual can have as well as the feedback of the society regarding an issue that affects them. On the other hand, Jefferson attempts to explain the structure and functioning of the society. However, the similarity between their viewpoints is that they both wanted the best for the society.
Work Cited
Malstrom, Stan. Dr. Samuel Thomson, Herbalist, Vol 1, No. 7, 1976, Print.
Peterson, Merrill D. Adams and Jefferson: A Revolutionary Dialogue. Oxford: Oxford
