Their project was in part to legitimize the transfer of power from the nobility to the elite merchant and “gentleman” farmer class. They were very much a product of their time, just like you and I are today.
I’d say they are more products of their class privilege than their time. If some people at the time were outlawing slavery, and someone else stops them… Who is the product of the time? Well, the conservative, of course. Because progressivism is just a bonus added on, its better than we expect of anyone in the past, and history itself.
Their project was in part to legitimize the transfer of power from the nobility to the elite merchant and “gentleman” farmer class. They were very much a product of their time, just like you and I are today.
I’d say they are more products of their class privilege than their time. If some people at the time were outlawing slavery, and someone else stops them… Who is the product of the time? Well, the conservative, of course. Because progressivism is just a bonus added on, its better than we expect of anyone in the past, and history itself.