Being one of the most influential revolutions in Western world, the causes and impacts of the French Revolution are worth-study. Some may argue that the French Revolution was successful which brought in new ideas of democracy and universality of man (Furet, 1990); whereas some think that the French Revolution was a failure which could not make any concrete changes to the community or political system (Roberts, 2000). Although it is hard to judge whether the French Revolution is revolutionary or not, the French Revolution itself was an outcome under the influences of the Enlightenment (Warner, 2013). Since the age of Enlightenment, people are encouraged to reason things even they may be lacking knowledge, in the purpose of bettering their own
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This essay will discuss how does the French Revolution take the core values of the Enlightenment into practice and show those ideas, including the views on making progress, the idea of liberty, rights of pursuing happiness and the concept of reasoning.
The underlying origin of the French Revolution reveals the main ideology of the Enlightenment – making progress. According to Kant, the desire of chasing better things and making progress are deep-rooted in humanness to provide themselves’ a better living condition and improve their competitiveness, in terms of technology, knowledge, social order and suchlike things (1983). In the age of Enlightenment, people are encouraged to make themselves and the community, as well as the world, by their own knowledge or ability. This idea is tightly corelated with the origin of the French Revolution. Although there are multiple causes of the French Revolution, the participants are mainly the commoners, which is the lowest state of population. Among the commoners, majority of them are grass-rooted, for …show more content…
According to Thomas, the Enlightenment advocates pursuing happiness is a natural thing and worth-encouraged. Also, people should not prevent other from seeking their own happiness (2014). Aimed for democracy and making progress, the outcome of the French Revolution also included pursuing private happiness, which could be achieved if the mentioned values were fulfilled (Barr, 1960). For a non-tyrannical government or authority, it is necessary for it to protect citizens’ liberty or human rights, as well as their rights of the pursuit of happiness (Barr, 1960). Before the French Revolution, the political system was monarchy and the tyranny stopped people from chasing happiness. Happiness is relative which can be experienced by comparison (Veenhoven, 1991). As mentioned before, the commoners had a hard life due to political and financial crisis whereas the upper two classes, including the nobility and the clergy, still could enjoy a wealthy life. Under the big contrast between the state of population, it was normal for the grass-rooted to feel unhappy. Their happiness could only be achieved by social movement to strive for democracy. Only when the French Revolution succeed can change the political modality and thus have some better policies, for example lowering the tax rate, having more government support or welfare to the poor, breaking the situation of severe
This essay will discuss how does the French Revolution take the core values of the Enlightenment into practice and show those ideas, including the views on making progress, the idea of liberty, rights of pursuing happiness and the concept of reasoning.
The underlying origin of the French Revolution reveals the main ideology of the Enlightenment – making progress. According to Kant, the desire of chasing better things and making progress are deep-rooted in humanness to provide themselves’ a better living condition and improve their competitiveness, in terms of technology, knowledge, social order and suchlike things (1983). In the age of Enlightenment, people are encouraged to make themselves and the community, as well as the world, by their own knowledge or ability. This idea is tightly corelated with the origin of the French Revolution. Although there are multiple causes of the French Revolution, the participants are mainly the commoners, which is the lowest state of population. Among the commoners, majority of them are grass-rooted, for …show more content…
According to Thomas, the Enlightenment advocates pursuing happiness is a natural thing and worth-encouraged. Also, people should not prevent other from seeking their own happiness (2014). Aimed for democracy and making progress, the outcome of the French Revolution also included pursuing private happiness, which could be achieved if the mentioned values were fulfilled (Barr, 1960). For a non-tyrannical government or authority, it is necessary for it to protect citizens’ liberty or human rights, as well as their rights of the pursuit of happiness (Barr, 1960). Before the French Revolution, the political system was monarchy and the tyranny stopped people from chasing happiness. Happiness is relative which can be experienced by comparison (Veenhoven, 1991). As mentioned before, the commoners had a hard life due to political and financial crisis whereas the upper two classes, including the nobility and the clergy, still could enjoy a wealthy life. Under the big contrast between the state of population, it was normal for the grass-rooted to feel unhappy. Their happiness could only be achieved by social movement to strive for democracy. Only when the French Revolution succeed can change the political modality and thus have some better policies, for example lowering the tax rate, having more government support or welfare to the poor, breaking the situation of severe