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The enlightenment and french revolution
The french revolution and the age of enlightenment
The enlightenment and french revolution
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The Philosophes
French intellectual leaders of the Enlightenment were bankers, merchants, and professional men who had education and wealth. As a result of their political voice being denied to them, these men paved the way for the French Revolution through their skeptical attitudes toward government, religion, and social traditions. This group of aggressive dissenters and critics of the Old Regime, the prerevolution monarchy, were the Philosophes.
The Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th century involved a particular group of French thinkers who were very popular during the middle of the 18th century. This group was known as the Philosophes, a large group of people who pursued a variety of the same intellectual interests. Believing in and fighting for the same common goal held the Philosophes together. One of the goals they were striving for was to get rid of erroneous views of thought, such as religion. They also doubted the perfectibility of human beings. Philosophes questioned everything and wanted direct answers, which is why a lot of them were great thinkers and scientists. Greatly influenced by the discoveries and thinking of the Scientific Revolution, they were always looking for laws or principles to prove their findings that supported intellectual freedom.
The Philosphe movement had three central ideas: progress, deism, and tolerance. The Philosophes strongly encouraged progress so they would have knowledge of the natural world and they would be able to learn more through technology. Wanting people to overcome their fears of superstitions and things their religions had taught them, they encouraged people to believe what they knew and what they could prove.
Deism is believing in the existence of God or a Sup...
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...nt Greeks rather than that of the French.
Philosphes were a group of French thinkers who put a new perspective on religion and scientific events. This group of intellects shared what they thought, and they were not afraid to use their freedom of speech. Not only did most Philosophes feel that progress, deism, and tolerance should be looked at strongly, but they were also very much against religion. Most Philosophes rejected the traditional medieval/early modern conceptualization of a Christian God. Philosophes started a whole new era with a great way of looking at things that were happening in the world around them.
End Notes:
1. Thomas, Barry. Great Historical Writers. New York: Walker (1967). 24-49
2. www.voltairefoundation.com
3. www.voltairefoundation.com
4. Thomas, 121
5. Thomas, 121
6. http://webhome.infonie.fr/prelate/doc-006.htm
While some believe that the Philosophes are a great exception that propelled civilization generations forward, most serious students of history would realize that to be impossible
The Enlightenment (also known as the Age of Reason) is described by scholars a method of thinking and knowing (“epistemology”) based off of the ideas that the natural world is in fact better understood through close observation, as well as dependence on reason. An important note to point out is that the Enlightenment added a more secular environment to colonial life, which had always been based on religion. The ideas of the Enlightenment actually originated in eighteenth century Europe, allowing for the birth of colonial “deists” who often looked for God’s plan in nature more than the Bible as they had in the past. Many of the deists began to look at science and reason to divulge God’s laws and purpose. This period of Enlightenment encouraged people to study the world around them, think for themselves instead of what others had to say, as well as ask whether the chaotic appearances of things were masking a sense of order. The...
During the Enlightenment, it was a time when educated intellectuals came together to discuss political, religious, economic, and social questions. From these discussions some people questioned the types of monarchies and which would be better for the society. These people were revolutionary thinkers that became known as philosophes, or philosophers, who brought new ideas on how to better understand and improve their society. They were all modern thinkers who had the best interest in society. Although each philosopher had their own individual ideas, they all focused on one common theme, which was equality and human rights.
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The incredulity primarily revolved around the skepticism of religious doctrine, the institutionalized church, and government authority. What the philosophes believed during the Enlightenment was a sharp departure from much of the traditional social thinking which led to skepticism against previous authority, such as the Church, as well as what it stated to be true. Baron d' Holbach in the System of Nature (Document 3) revealed that the Enlightened man is someone who thinks for himself, therefore, should not hold the so called truths by the Church authority and Classical philosophers to be true. Holbach conveyed that to not base truths upon those of the supposed authority because it has been frequently proven incorrect. This ties into what Lester G. Crocker stated in The Age of Enlightenment (Document 4) that philosophes believed that the proper business of churches was only the salvation of souls. To consider what the Church stated to be true in science, government, or economics is mistaken. Baron de Montesquieu in The Spirit of the Laws (Document 8) described the process of Check and Balances which in simpler terms is the sharing of power in the government. He paraded against institutions with absolute monarchical powers such as the Church because they could create and enforce tyrannical laws.
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Oh goodness the 18th century… There is so much to say about the 1700s such as it was a time of enlightenment! Now now do not let the word enlightenment take you for a loop and think this was a time for strictly gaining knowledge and understanding because…Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Yes, that’s right Wars! Throughout the 18th there were numerous wars such as the Seven Years War and the War of the Spanish Succession in which we will discuss farther down. This timeline will focus on mostly only WARS because like stated above the 18th century was packed with them, but will also touch on, the enlightenment of course, expansion, Slave Trade, and some lagniappe. Now let’s begin with the year 1700:
The Enlightenment is a unique time in European history characterized by revolutions in science, philosophy, society, and politics. These revolutions put Europe in a transition from the medieval world-view to the modern western world. The traditional hierarchical political and social orders from the French monarchy and Catholic Church were destroyed and replaced by a political and social order from the Enlightenment ideals of freedom and equality(Bristow, 1). Many historians, such as Henry Steele Commager, Peter Gay, have studied the Enlightenment over the years and created their own views and opinions.
The Enlightenment had its roots in the scientific and philosophical movements of the 17th century. It was, in large part, a rejection of the faith-based medieval world view for a way of thought based on structured inquiry and scientific understanding. It stressed individualism, and it rejected the church's control of the secular activities of men. Among the movement's luminaries were Descartes, Newton, and Locke. They, among others, stressed the individual's use of reason to explain and understand the world about himself in all of its aspects. Important principles of the Enlightenment included the use of science to examine all aspects of life (this was labeled "reason"),...
This movement was influenced by increased literacy and scientific revolution. During that time scientist developed the scientific method, this new technique helped them make improvements in testing new scientific theories. The enlightenment era introduced reason, social sciences, and natural sciences in the world. The enlightenment thinkers’ belief in progress, human behavior can improve through the ability of educating their minds, people can change from immaturity, uneducated begins to mature, open minded, and knowledge begins. In addition, to their beliefs they have hope that people will understand universal truths about human nature that we can progress and improve. The thinkers goal is to challenge our minds to rebel against the norm, and question authority, in the church, and in the military. Last but not least, these thinkers aimed to make the country’s secular from religion, meaning separating the church and the government. Their outlook was very different from the rest of the population. Martin Luther, a rebel of his time said,” Reason is a whore, the greatest enemy that faith has; it never comes to the aid of spiritual things, but more frequently than not struggles against the divine Word, treating with contempt all that emanates from God,”(Luther). In other words, he is trying to express his feelings towards
The Scientific revolution in the 16th and 17th centuries changed the way that people views the world. Scientific philosophers such as Galileo and Descartes threw out the old teachings of the church and challenged them with new ways of thinking. These men sought to prove that rational thought could prove the existence of God. They also challenged that it was an understanding of a series of rational thoughts, not faith, would bring understanding of how the world worked. Traditional ways of thinking were ultimately challenged by logical and sensible rationale.
...n, the advancement of these three philosophies from the theological Puritan views to the great scientific and reason ideals of the Enlightenment showed how a reform of beliefs and ideas resulted in the progressively modern ethics that our government is based on today. Scientific reasoning of the world ignited ideas that the ignorant society of the Puritans was immensely closed-minded about which gave way to how we explain how things happen through the use of science and reasoning. Though Puritans saw that this great reform was a blasphemy against God, the Enlightenment expanded different beliefs of religion which furthered societies intellect and understanding of religion. The social awakening of the arts help pave the way for entertainment we have today, and if not for this great “awakening” of knowledge our society would be far less advanced than we are today.
The Enlightenment began or could be said to have been propelled by the scientific revolution of the earlier centuries, particularly the Newtonian universe, as modernizing science gradually undermined the ancient Western geocentric idea of the universe as well as accompanying set of presuppositions that had been constraining and influencing philosophical inquiry (Bristow; Lewis; Mattey). This has led to the promotion of philosophy that of natural science included, emerging from the shadows of theology to become an independent, powerful force that challenged the old and the status quo. This has led to the great progress at the intellectual and scientific levels, with the society so enthusiastic about said progress amidst expectations that philosophy in general would lead to huge improvement in human conditions (Bristow). During this time, philosophers in the narrow sense of the root world considered the Church as fomenting ignorance, superstition and subservience. They also believed in the inherent equality of human beings even as they held that the best form of gov...
...teenth century intellects claimed that morality was independent of religion, and that religious authority had no say in the moral dictates of an individual. This sort of thought would eventually sway the public’s view in matters of morality and religion and eliminate the churches influence in society and institution altogether.