The Enlightment Movement: The Great Awakening
explanatory Essay
604 words
Between the late 1600s and 1700s a movement began in Europe called the Enlightenment and later another movement was started by the colonist called the Great Awakening. The Enlightenment movement focused on science, reason, observation, and many natural laws were discovered during this time by people like Newton, Franklin, Galileo, and many more. Many went from a God centered way of life to a man centered view on life; science and reason was used to answer the questions when it came to the various mysteries of life. The Enlightment movement caused people to think differently about religion and people began to question the church when it came to their right to rule over the people (Schultz, 2013). One philosophy that came out of this time …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Explains the enlightenment movement and the great awakening, which brought together the entire colonist through a shared religious experience.
- Explains that the great awakening brought god back to the center of the colonists' lives.
Ministers did all they could to stir up the emotions of the colonists and taught that the individual was important to the whole group. They also preached about how a person should live a godly life and perform good works in order to receive salvation. A few of the things that came from the Great Awakening was that the colonist became deeply religious and many new churches were built since attendance increased. Colleges were built that did nothing but train new ministers; some of the colleges built were Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Kings College of New York, Princeton, and many others. Many of these ministers taught that all men were equal and that authority should be challenged along with they started charities and organizations that did charitable deeds. The Great Awakening was incredibly different from Puritanism that emphasized a calm and virtuous life with emphasis on reason whereas after the Great Awakening a person becoming emotional was a sign of faith as was expressing their feelings, along with the teaching that salvation was not earned by performing good deeds but by faith. Another outcome was that people were encouraged to find a church that suited their needs, to question the leadership of their pastor, and encouraged to allow their religious beliefs to influence
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- The Age of Enlightenmentanalytical essayThe 18th century was filled with Enlightenment philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians, each contributing to the way our world thinks today. The Enlightenment prompted society to part from the ancient views of superstition and traditionalism, and transition to basing findings and concept on reason and logic. Each of the brilliant minds contributed to the worldly movement, their purpose was to reform society by challenging ideas that were grounded firmly in faith, emphasize reason and intelligence, and to advance knowledge through science and the arts. This stirred debate and completely reshaped our world’s perception of the universe, it questioned the existence of our world and what we were meant to evolve to. This mass circulation of thought would significantly affect historical events to come, such as the American and French Revolution, whose bases for government was influenced by thinkers such as Montesquieu, and his idea about the balance of power between the three branches of government, as well as Rousseau’s idea about the power of democracy and the consent of the people. Three such Enlightenment philosophes were John Locke, Rene Descartes, and Jean-Jacque Rousseau. Each of these men generally agreed that most human failure and suffering was a result of mindlessly following tradition and superstition that was fed to them by leaders of the church and state. They believed that humankind could improve itself greatly, and that Enlightenment values of reason and humanity could achieve it. The first step was to free thinking itself-to escape the darkness of the past to the light of reason.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the 18th century was filled with enlightenment philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians, each contributing to the way our world thinks today.
- Opines that if one is a true seeker after truth, it is necessary that at least once in one's life you doubt, as far as possible, all things.
- Explains that rené descartes was born on march 31, 1596, in la haye, a small town in central france. his mother, jeanne brochard, unfortunately died within the first year of his life.
- Analyzes how rené descartes approached the combination of maths and logic with philosophy to explain the physical world. he became metaphysical when confronted with the question of theology.
- Explains that rené descartes made philosopher of us all, giving us the necessary tools to gather information deductively, analytically and inquisitively to explain the natural world and what role mathematics and science played in our lives.
- Describes jean-jacque rousseau as the most significant and famous french philosopher of his age. his contributions to political philosophy and moral psychology influenced later thinkers, inspiring the french revolution.
- Explains that rené descartes is considered the father of modern philosophy. his ideas parted from the current understandings of the day, which were more feelings-oriented.
- Analyzes how rousseau entered the academy of dijon's essay contest to answer the question, "has the restoration of the sciences and arts tended to purify morals?"
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that the age of enlightenment was a time in western europe that people started coming up with new ideas and became more individualistic.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that the age of enlightenment was the reason for one of the most immoral periods in england and europe.
- Explains that whitefield brought the preaching of foundation for evangelical christians, the gathering for revival and sermon for salvation and rebirth through only god not man.
- Explains that the wealthy and educated were most influenced by the enlightenment movement as they were the only groups able to afford the writings.
- Explains that only the elite remained among the enlightenment and deism movements in america as the century moved on.
642 wordsRead More - The Enlightenment Movementexplanatory essayThe 18th-century Enlightenment was an era that symbolized the desire to change social order of Europe citizens. The Church was thought to have been the source of truth and condemned any person that went against it, but people were beginning to think separately and independently from the Church. Thinkers of the Enlightenment provided new ideas based on reason, science, and valued humanity. In addition, writers of the Enlightenment intended to alter the relationship of people and government. Although many welcomed the Enlightenment, five movements reacted against the ideas of the era. Conservatism was a reaction against the Enlightenment because it reflected ideas based on tradition and hierarchy. The ideas of Liberalism were built on the foundation of the Enlightenment but began to mimic middle class values. The followers of Nationalism became excessively dedicated to the viewpoints of their nation. The socialist movement was a reaction against the Enlightenment because as it progressed it took on the resemblance of Nationalism. Lastly is the movement of romanticism and unlike the Enlightenment, this movement rejected natural science.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the 18th-century enlightenment symbolized the desire to change social order of europe citizens.
- Explains that conservatism was a political and social movement that embraced tradition and any change that came about was minimal. the reluctance towards changes in society was opposite to the ideas of the enlightenment.
- Explains that the ideals of liberalism were based on the belief that there should be equal opportunities for everyone afforded by set laws.
- Explains how the nationalist ideologies were a reaction against the enlightenment, which promoted equality of all nationalities and religions, as well as rational in knowledge.
- Explains that socialism was a thought and political movement that gained attention during the increase of displacement caused by the growth of market economies in europe.
- Explains romanticism was founded on romantic philosophy, the belief that encouraged emotional self-awareness. it rejected philosophy of the enlightenment because it believed that nature was meant to be studied and explored.
- Explains that the enlightenment was a movement that attempted to introduce new ways of thinking, views of nature and religion, but other movements rejected it and introduced additional ideologies.
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In this essay, the author
- Compares the scientific revolution and the enlightenment periods, which were times of great emphasis on reason and questioning of faith.
- Explains that the scientific revolution was the popularization of the belief in a sun-centered universe. aristotle and ptolemy supported the geocentric theory.
- Explains that galileo, like copernicus, doubted the theories of philosophers and scientists, such as aristotle. he disagreed with the bible's teachings. sir issac newton developed the law of gravitation.
- Explains that rene descartes was another contributor to the downfall of former teachings. he believed that progress could be made if mathematics was used in all fields of knowledge.
- Explains that scientists during the scientific revolution changed many of the beliefs that were accepted before them. galileo, for example, was ordered twice to appear before the iquisition for his support of copernican theory.
- Explains that the enlightenment of the eighteenth century was also known as the age of reason. philosophes believed that everyone has natural rights and that one must control one's destiny in order to have a better life on earth.
- Explains adam smith's theory of the "invisible hand" that guided the economy in capitalism.
- Analyzes how immanuel kant was an influential philosophe of the enlightenment period. he argued that man should not be subject to pre-existing beliefs and should be free to think and believe what he chooses.
- Explains that voltaire, another philosophe, was against organized religion but was a believer in the concept of deism. he believed that god created humans, but then gave them the power of reason to determine their own lives.
- Explains that the enlightenment consisted of reasoning, thought, and doubt of old beliefs. the concept of deism was universal among most philosophes.
- Explains that former beliefs were constantly challenged throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. in the enlightenment, philosophes strayed from the teachings of the church and said that everyone has the ability to control their own destiny.
- Explains perry m. rogers' aspects of western civilization: problems and sources in history.
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In this essay, the author
- Explains that the enlightenment was inspired by the scientific revolution and led people to challenge the church authority and traditional intellectual authority.
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- Explains voltaire's philosophy of a perfect society and montesquieu’s belief that the sovereignty of the nation must be divided.
- Analyzes voltaire's philosophy of the source of evil, which is that the main problems in the world are superstition, intolerance, greed, dishonesty, and oppression.
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- Summarizes the works of montesquieu, voltaire, rousseau, the encyclopedists and nicholas de condorcet.
591 wordsRead More - the enlightenmentanalytical essayWomen are not advancing in the workplace at an appropriate rate. Sharon Webster is angry. She has been an employee at Merrill Lynch for the past 18 years immediately after graduating from college. It’s a nice job with above the board benefits and perks and an excellent health care plan. So what could be the source of her indignation?
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- Explains that there is still widespread discrimination of women in the workplace on various levels. the corporate creature keeps them at arm's-length, barring them from a circle of fellowship.
- Analyzes the underbelly of gender discrimination, especially the snubbing of scores of women for promotion even when they are more qualified than their male counterparts.
- Explains that merrill lynch and massachusetts institute of technology have long-standing and pervasive discrimination against women in their faculties.
- Argues that even if women secure executive positions, they are often not being paid at the same level as males. the fallacious assumption of women being higher per capita earners is a skewed connection.
- Argues that education is the key factor which will empower women to advance their collective interests and effect sweeping change in the workforce.
1482 wordsRead More - History of Psychologyanalytical essayMoving on to the Enlightment , we see movement away from religion towards science. This period centred around people who argued god did not exist because it was not tangible. This eventually led to ‘God is dead’ , till to date only 2% of us go to church. The Enlightment thinkers believed systematic thinking could be applied to all areas of activity i.e. economics, psychology, science etc.
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- Explains that the aborigines believed and lived in the ‘dreamtime’, which refers to the time when land and humans were created, and when ancestors and spirits came to earth and created everything.
- Analyzes how the psyche was imagined through works of hesiod and homer in the 7th century b.c.
- Analyzes how the greek tragedy teaches us about the hero who overextends. according to bowles, we often go too far, in search of money, power, control over others, and forget our limits.
- Explains that greek philosophy was based on the belief that life is divine, and for them the soul was essential.
- Analyzes how socrates and plato's rationalism took over the right and left brain hemispheres of the brain.
- Analyzes how plato introduced us to the notion of 'eidos' which in other words means eternal ideas. the soul is both rational and irrational.
- Compares aristotle with plato, who was the world conqueror intellectually. he taught how to look at nature using thought and reason, known as the scientific method.
- Explains that the notion of gods and goddesses collapsed and there was speculation that someone was coming. augustine had a vision of christ and introduced christianity to the romans.
- Analyzes how jung explained the'son of god' concept in a way that on one hand we are made up of human aspect (ego) while on the other hand is the unconscious which represents the divine.
- Explains that paul's letters during his journeys written to churches he had founded make up a good portion of the testament.
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- Explains that the birth of mohammed in the medieval period in arabia was the most extraordinary phenomenon of that time.
- Describes the rebirth or rainaissance of european culture from the end of the 14th century to the beginning of 17th.
- Analyzes how the radical change in the european society had a negative effect on ity of the church. the protestants taught that all people are individually responsible for their status before god.
- Explains that the enlightment saw a movement away from religion towards science, which led to 'god is dead', and systematic thinking could be applied to all areas of activity.
2251 wordsRead More - The Enlightenment Ideas and the Reforms of the French Revolutionanalytical essayEnlightenment ideas brought about rejection towards the traditional views and customs of the church. These ideas taught society to use reason, knowledge and nature as a source and to be guided by. The Enlightenment brought about Deism and some even went as far as believing in atheism. The philosophes of the time believed that “God’s relation to the universe was li...
In this essay, the author
- Explains how enlightenment ideas impacted reforms of the french revolution in a vast number of ways.
- Explains that the enlightenment gave way to new ideas which reformed the french revolution. copernicus' heliocentric theory brought about a new prospective of the universe.
- Explains that the enlightenment brought about rejection towards the traditional views and customs of the church. deism became the new religion accepted by most but some churchgoers rejected it.
- Analyzes how baron de montesquieu, a frenchman and enlightenment admirer of the time, believed that division of government was the way to protect people's liberty and prevent tyranny.
- Explains that jean jacques rousseau disagreed with some of the enlightenment ideas. he believed that all humans had basic goodness.
- Explains that the enlightenment ideas were responsible and apparent for the reforms of the french revolution to great extent.
723 wordsRead More - The Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th Centuryanalytical essayThe 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.
In this essay, the author
- Describes the philosophes, a group of aggressive dissenters and critics of the old regime, the prerevolution monarchy, who paved the way for the french revolution.
- Explains that the enlightenment involved a group of french thinkers who were popular during the middle of the 18th century, known as the philosophes.
- Explains that the philosphe movement had three central ideas: progress, deism, and tolerance. they encouraged progress so they would have knowledge of the natural world and learn more through technology.
- Explains that deism is believing in the existence of god or a supreme being, but denying revealed religion based on the beliefs of the light and nature of reason.
- Explains that philosophes strongly believed that most human crimes committed were done for religion or in the name of god. people must learn to separate god and life decisions so that they cannot be used together as an excuse.
- Opines that voltaire was one of the greatest and most influential philosophes of all time. he concentrated most extensively on two specific philosophical projects.
- Analyzes how voltaire was upset when he heard of the execution of an innocent man, jean calas, who was tortured and strangled to death, but never confessed to the crime before dying.
- Explains that the encyclopedia was a collection of the ideas of over one hundred french thinkers put together by denis diderot and jean le rond d'lembert.
- Analyzes how gotthold lessing, like voltaire, argued for religious tolerance in his work, nathan the wise, and on the education of the human race.
- Explains that philosphes were french thinkers who put a new perspective on religion and scientific events. they were not afraid to use their freedom of speech.
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