Comparing Voltaire And Rousseau

Voltaire & Rousseau The Enlightenment or “age of reason” is a time period from about 1685-1815 where we see a huge change in European science, politics, and philosophy. These changes were brought by Philosophers all around Europe who believed that there ideas could change humanity. The philosophers each had their own separate ideas but they hopped to change the political landscape, and culture of Europe. This need for change was sparked by the European economic growth. The philosophers of this time felt that the European culture, and politics had to change with the new economical landscape. This is very prevalent in the Philosophy of Rousseau and Voltaire. Voltaire was one of the best known philosophers of the time. He was born in 1694

Voltaire expressed most of his political and cultural ideas by comparing Britain’s religious and pollical liberty to other European nations. He was most fond of Britian’s respect for sciences, support for research, and open minded government. He credited the British changes to the previous violent revolutions that occurred in earlier centuries. Voltaire said the revolutions created political stability and moderation. Voltaire shows us that this stability and moderation is shown throughout Britain’s culture. He shows us that Britain’s tax system doesn’t allow the wealthy to exempt themselves unlike France’s. He also showed us that Britain was a city that exercised political freedom unlike most others at that time. He talked about citizens for different religions could live together in harmony. Rousseau, who was born in 1712, had a very different view then most philosophers at the time. While just like the other philosophers Rousseau wanted to see political and educational freedom, he wanted to see a political landscape built off sensibility and emotions. Rousseau focused on human phycology unlike the other philosophers of the time who were focused on