Joseph McKeen and the soul of Bowdoin College: an analysis of the chapel sermons of Rev. Joseph McKeen, first president of Bowdoin College, as they relate to his call to serve the common good

Tracey, Stephen John (2016) Joseph McKeen and the soul of Bowdoin College: an analysis of the chapel sermons of Rev. Joseph McKeen, first president of Bowdoin College, as they relate to his call to serve the common good. MTh(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The Reverend Joseph McKeen (1757-1807) was the first president of Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, USA, (founded 1794). McKeen is famous for his inaugural address in which he calls students to serve the common good. His view of common good is a deeply theological view, coloured by the theological era in which he lived and worked. This study examines the idea of common in the light of McKeen’s college sermons, taking note of the following subjects: Scottish Common Sense Realism; The Nature of True Virtue; The Controversy with Unitarianism; and Science and Mathematics. McKeen’s view of common good is not simply a political view. He is not merely a republican, expressing his views on the future of the republic in a classical political way. He is also, indeed primarily, a pastor and theologian.

• Item Type: Thesis (MTh(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Keywords: Joseph McKeen, Bowdoin College, common good, preaching
• Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion; L Education > LD Individual institutions (United States)
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Theology and Religious Studies
• Supervisor's Name: McIntosh, Dr. John R
• Date of Award: 2016
• Depositing User: Stephen Tracey
• Unique ID: glathesis:2016-7407
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 10 Jun 2016 12:35
• Last Modified: 22 Jun 2016 13:22
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/7407