INTRO:
The Enlightenment was a period of advancement in Western Europe that engendered the political, sociological and educational of modernity. The Enlightenment Period took place between 1650 and 1780, and is characterised by skepticism towards the doctrines of the Church, individualism, and rational thinking. ‘Enlightenment thinkers’ became instrumental in advocating the need for social reform, particularly through mediums such as literature. Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a political philosopher whose views on the prevailing corruption of society influenced the French Revolution and led Europe towards becoming Enlightened- this ultimately paved the way for the ideals of contemporary society.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF HISTORICAL FIGURE:
Rousseau …show more content…
In 1755 Rousseau published his work Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men. This text defined inequalities as either natural or unnatural. Rousseau’s belief was that the unnatural, or moral inequalities, were created by man, and were subsequently preventable. In Discourse on Inequality, Rousseau proposed that the only thing separating man in it’s natural state from beasts was it’s capacity to pursue ‘perfectability’. Humanity’s delusions of ‘perfectability’ would ultimately drive society to develop negative motivations, and seek dominance over others as a way of augmenting individual happiness- this principle was referred to as amour propre. “No man has any natural authority over his fellow men.” Thomas Hobbes’ interpretation of the state of nature diametrically opposed that of Rousseau’s, in that Hobbes’ maintained it would be a state of constant war, fought by an individualistic population. Ultimately. the discrepancy between these two views signifies the differing perceptions of human nature that the two philosopher’s held. Rousseau’s fundamental belief was that man is naturally good, and whilst he acknowledged the impracticality of returning to a state of nature, he maintained that it was imperative for society’s members to understand their natural
The Enlightenment was a period of advancement in Western Europe that engendered the political, sociological and educational of modernity. The Enlightenment Period took place between 1650 and 1780, and is characterised by skepticism towards the doctrines of the Church, individualism, and rational thinking. ‘Enlightenment thinkers’ became instrumental in advocating the need for social reform, particularly through mediums such as literature. Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a political philosopher whose views on the prevailing corruption of society influenced the French Revolution and led Europe towards becoming Enlightened- this ultimately paved the way for the ideals of contemporary society.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF HISTORICAL FIGURE:
Rousseau …show more content…
In 1755 Rousseau published his work Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men. This text defined inequalities as either natural or unnatural. Rousseau’s belief was that the unnatural, or moral inequalities, were created by man, and were subsequently preventable. In Discourse on Inequality, Rousseau proposed that the only thing separating man in it’s natural state from beasts was it’s capacity to pursue ‘perfectability’. Humanity’s delusions of ‘perfectability’ would ultimately drive society to develop negative motivations, and seek dominance over others as a way of augmenting individual happiness- this principle was referred to as amour propre. “No man has any natural authority over his fellow men.” Thomas Hobbes’ interpretation of the state of nature diametrically opposed that of Rousseau’s, in that Hobbes’ maintained it would be a state of constant war, fought by an individualistic population. Ultimately. the discrepancy between these two views signifies the differing perceptions of human nature that the two philosopher’s held. Rousseau’s fundamental belief was that man is naturally good, and whilst he acknowledged the impracticality of returning to a state of nature, he maintained that it was imperative for society’s members to understand their natural