The beginning of the eighteenth century marked the beginning of Enlightenment thinking. Unlike centuries prior, philosophers began to investigate the capabilities of human thought. Our ability to reason was defined as a valuable resource to change society. However, our ability to reason does not guarantee that our societal responsibilities and the structure of authority will be just. In fact, the enlightenment era reveals that the true definition of human nature is not that of elevated thought but rather greed and barbaric behavior. This definition is best seen through Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal. Through his political Satire, he not only defines our true nature, but mocks society’s moral compass. He does this by saying society should
