.

Friday, May 15, 2020

The Key Ideas of the Enlightenment Essay - 1865 Words

This essay will be examining the key concepts of the ‘Enlightenment’ also known as â€Å"The Age of Reasonâ€Å" that occurred from the 16th and 17th century, before considering the manner in which it helped to shape the sociological view on societies and how it has linked to the birth of sociology. Before doing so I will give a brief historical context. All the profound questioning that emerged during the Enlightenment came out of the undermining of the old Catholic authority over all social truth that was produced by the Reformation when Luther (1483 –1546) and others had challenged this over-arching authority with the idea that each of us had our own personal relationship with God. This meant that we had to turn to ourselves and use our own†¦show more content†¦Such immaturity is self-caused if it is not caused by lack of intelligence, but by lack of determination and courage to use ones intelligence without being guided by another†. (Calhoun and Gerteis 2007, p.39). Both Kant and Descartes, and others of the enlightenment, were seeking to ensure a new rational basis for making judgements about ethics, epistemology and reason, and for these two, that basis was to be found in the autonomous use of reason. The beginnings of questions about society emerged with new ideas about the social contract and political order (Locke, Rousseau and Hobbes) and initiated the liberal condition. Before such questionings, ‘society’, often called the ‘common-wealth’, was assumed to be either divine or naturally ordered so this is how the idea of ‘society’ as separated from church, the individual became established in the first place. One of the important consequences of this new spirit of reason that really inflamed the enlightenment was the French Revolution in 1789 which stimulated the most profound level analyses of society, history and everything else (IEP 2004). There were also critics of enlightenment. The enlightenment has come under attack from Johann Gottfried Herder (1744-1803) a German philosopher of 19th century, critiques the ideology of the enlightenment concerning Anthropology (Being) andShow MoreRelatedThe British Enlightenment And The American Revolution1538 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican Revolution was a product of the British Enlightenment as well as both American and British history. The Enlightenment was age of innovation taking place during the 17th and 18th centuries. During this period there were great advancements in science that pushed back religious superstitions, as well as developments in economics and political thinking. (lecture) The British Enlightenment specifically had a large impact on the American Revolution with key figures such as John Locke. His works includingRead MoreInfluence Of Enlightenment On The American Revolution898 Words   |  4 Pages The ideas of the Enlightenment influenced the American Revolu tion and the formation of the American Government in several different ways. The Enlightenment period initiated several new ideas about freedoms and rights. These ideas were discussed in meetings called salons in France, where they discussed new ideas. There were many influential philosophers from the enlightenment periods, Thomas Hobbes, Montesquieu, Adam Smith, Voltaire, John Locke, and Rousseau. Thomas Hobbes believed that all peopleRead MoreThe Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment Essay1696 Words   |  7 PagesExplore parallels between ideas of the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment This essay will explore parallels between the ideas of the scientific revolution and the enlightenment. The scientific revolution describes a time when great changes occurred in the way the universe was viewed, d through the advances of sciences during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The enlightenment refers to a movement that grew out of the new scientific ideas of the revolution that occurred in the lateRead MoreThe French Revolution And The Enlightenment1471 Words   |  6 PagesThrough bloodshed, the radical actions of the French Revolution sparked by philosophies of Enlightenment, will impact the future. Historical figures such as Robespierre heading the Great Assembly will drive change in culture through the revolution, in hopes of achieving enlightened societies. The 18th century marks the beginning of modern history. The French revolution playing a role in furthering Enlightenment, will led to a chain of events that will change the course of the future and modernize theRead MoreThe Enlightenment : Main Ideas Of The Enlightenment800 Words   |  4 Pagesanother prominent theme of the Enlightenment. By this, we mean the idea that man is endowed with certain liberties or rights. These rights were believed to have been granted by God and/or nature. Enlightenment figures typically espoused ideas of equality and human dignity. The Enlightenment had individual freedom with certain unalienable rights is very much in line with the Enlightenment concept about individual freedom.In addition Enlightenment philosophers main idea was too write about differentRead MoreKarl Marx And Manifesto Comparison Essay1402 Words   |  6 Pagesperception of things and ideas. They had their own ideas that helped shaped the practices and things that people do today. They both can be very different in how they would answer basic questions regarding philosophy. Even though, they differ they also have similarities between the two. Some questions to help show their sim ilarities and difference are needed to compare the two. We will look at how each define, What is the nature of human ignorance, How do we achieve enlightenment, and How will becomingRead MoreThe Enlightenment Ideas Of The American Revolution1423 Words   |  6 PagesStudies 10 Mr. Key Nov 8. 2017 The Enlightenment’s ideas in the American Revolution People in America were mad and broke. The colonies did not like the idea of paying high taxes to the King of England. In order to show their rage and anger, they did it by not paying taxes. The King of England was frustrated by the colonist s action and send an army to the Americas to sort this problem out. However, the people of America wanted to be free from England, so with the help of the Enlightenment thinkersRead MoreCharacteristics Of The Enlightenment Period1488 Words   |  6 Pages Each time period in history has had their own characteristics, key figures, and impact impact on the world. While each period is equally important to how we progressed from the past, the enlightenment period, from the 1700s to the 1800s, has contributed immensely to how everyday people go about their days. Without even realizing it, people have been molded by the enlightenment period, allowing themselves to face new ideas with an open mind . The grand designs of this period were empiricism, rationalismRead MoreThe Enlighment and the Great Awakening Influence on the American Revolution741 Words   |  3 PagesBoth the Enlightenment and the Great awakening caused the colonists to alter their views about government, the role of government, as well as society at large which ultimately and collectively helped to motivate the colonists to revolt against England. The Enlightenment was vital in almost every part of the founding of America, which included everything from government, to pol itics itself, as well as religion. Many of the ideas from the Enlightenment and the Great Awakening shaped our country asRead MoreNationalism And Nationalism1197 Words   |  5 Pageswith a quote from Voltaire, more specifically an French Enlightenment philosopher. The quote puts forth the idea that in order for a nation to succeed or to be powerful they must do harm to all of those around them. The era of Enlightenment was a key portion of the worlds history in regards to nationalism. Some could say that the very conception of nationalism occurred during this era. The philosophers from this time wished to promote the idea of a government ruled by the people and their interests

No comments:

Post a Comment