Mixing the old and the new

In some historiography, the founding of the United States of America marked the triumph of science, reason, and new ideas.

But Louisiana State University political science professor James Stoner argues that the science-centered storyline downplays the importance of tradition to the Founders.

In a North Carolina History Project lecture this afternoon, Stoner outlined the importance of both science and tradition at the time of the American Founding.

• Here he describes the importance of both old and new ideas.

10 p.m. update: Watch the entire speech here.