American Enlightenment

Social reform during the French Revolution developed due to the unfair political system, brutality perpetrated by the first estate, and the living conditions the lower class lived through, nevertheless the violence and genocide committed in order to create reform was immoral. Prior to the French Revolution, people of influence abused the political system in order to allow them to live in luxury. The government consisted of the first, second and third estate. The First Estate is composed of…

Scientific Tutelage Immanuel Kant designates that, “Enlightenment is a man’s release from his self-incurred tutelage. Tutelage is a man’s inability to make use of his understanding without direction from another. Self-incurred is this tutelage when its cause lies not in lack of reason but in lack of resolution and courage to use it without direction from another. Sapere aude! ‘Have courage to use your own reason!’---that is the motto of the enlightenment.” However, individuals in a society need…

In 1903, British philosopher G.E. Moore wrote the groundbreaking work Principia Ethica. Moore applied logic to ethics and promoted the ideals of friendship and love towards others, as well as aesthetic enjoyments. Moore’s work and philosophy was believed to have inspired members of the Bloomsbury Group. This philosophy freed them from the materialistic, utilitarian, and morality of the Victorian era to their more desired, idealistic and logical philosophy. John Maynard Keynes stated, "It was…

views of children and child-care. Before the Enlightenment period children were seen as vile and a nuisance by parents, this was because of high mortality rates. Children would be beaten by parents, cared for by other people than the actual parents, and harmed by negligence of parent. Suddenly when the Enlightenment period saw an expansion of many ideas that focused on having more love towards others and especially children. Along with Enlightenment, new medical practices such as the…

Olympe de Gouges was a woman in France during the 1700s. Normally a woman of this time period would be married, having children, and doing house work, but Olympe de Gouges was not the typical housewife that men expected her to be. She was an outspoken activist who truly changed France for the better. De Gouges fought for all people, women, Africans, orphans, the poor, the unemployed, the illegitimate, and the elderly. She did not do so by starting an all out rebellion, but using the little…

The Message behind Candide In the story Candide, written by Voltaire, there are several lessons that are meant to be learned. Voltaire’s satirical approach entices the reader to want to continue reading the story, find out what happens next, and really try to read between the lines for the deeper meaning. He makes a major point with his statement, “Cultivate your garden.” Those three powerful words combine together in response to the apathy or lack of concern created by philosophical optimism…

The French revolution, an important time in history. This was a time of death, economic crisis, taxing and much more. There was so much going on over this time span in history. There are many topics in the French Revolution to pick from but, some interesting ones I would like to introduce are the trials and execution of Louis XVI, The reign of terror, and the remaking of France. I will break up each topic into three sections scratching the surface on each of these topics and briefly discussing…

In a review of Earl J. Hamilton’s work American Treasure and the Price Revolution in Spain, 1501-1650, John Munro using Hamilton’s work notes that the Great Price Revolution was an extended period of inflation seen in the European economic realm, but acknowledges that it was unique in that the…

Written in 1759 Publishers: Boni and Liveright, Inc. New York - - - Synopsis: Candide is the start point of satire and optimism within literature, political rhetoric, amusing anecdotes and warped ideology. It's about youth, innocence, control and suffocating cultures - for those who know of my wicked sense of fun, you'll denote it doesn't please certain quarters... although, I haven't had the harsh critique that Voltaire has had from our contemporary civilization; then again secularism is…

The Enlightenment was an abstract movement in the 18th century which influenced the world of ideas. Groups of scientists, philosophers and thinkers came up with and discussed new ideas that were based on reason. The intellectual leaders of this movement considered themselves as courageous and noble, they viewed their purpose as leading the world towards progress and out of a long period of doubtful words. That of which they saw resulting from the ‘Dark Ages’. There are many influential and…