Scott Alexander creates a humorous 'Puritan' checklist to rank historical American figures, lamenting the loss of this eccentric, morally serious archetype in modern American culture. Longer summary

Scott Alexander explores the concept of 'Puritanism' as a cultural archetype, distinct from its religious connotations. He creates a humorous checklist to identify 'Puritan' traits in historical figures, focusing on characteristics like eccentricity, moral seriousness, inventiveness, and New England origins. The post ranks five historical Americans by their 'Puritan' qualities, with Benjamin Franklin scoring highest. Scott notes that this archetype, once a significant part of American identity, has largely disappeared from modern culture. He expresses disappointment at this loss, suggesting that the 'Puritan' ideal could serve as a positive national identity to aspire to, in contrast to less appealing stereotypes. Shorter summary