The restoration of monarchy was potently criticized by many thinkers approaching the French Revolution. French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau criticized the core of the social contract preached by Thomas Hobbes, which advocated an absolute monarchy over the people. Rousseau viewed civil society rather cynically, stating that the modern society of the time was a trick carried out by the elite aimed towards the less powerful, to sustain their affluence and power. Robert Darnton, author of The Literary Underground of the Old Regime, published a primary piece of historical literature that supported Rousseau’s criticisms. His theories argued that by mid 1700’s, “men of letters,” combined with the elites of society to possess ultimate power over the weak, creating a traceable connection between all powerful members of French society. Another influential piece of Rousseau’s work, titled Discourse on Inequality, emphasized the undeniable truth of the then current French society to greedily embrace inequality and wholly uneven social hierarchies with a disproportionate amount of power with the elite few – pronouncing the need for a new and evenly balanced social contract. An author by the name of Louis Sébastien Mercier wrote a utopian book titled, L'An 2440, rêve s'il en fut jamais, translating into Memoirs of the Year Two Thousand Five Hundred. By engaging his readers in such a far-fetched pragmatic experiment, he wanted them to realize how deplorable the current French society of the 18th century was. He denounced the then current facets of society like the justice system of the time, and in his utopian society, completely abolished levels of wealth and poverty. In his future, there were no religious figures, armies, slaves, arrests, taxes, and other forms of elite oppression over the weak. By refusing to be complacent in current society, he invited the very epitome of oppression that he hated – power hungry individuals – to target him, as he was imprisoned during the Reign of Terror.
By Erin, Atty, Mekayla
Team six did an excellent job answering the question. Not only did they state the thinkers but they also named some of their literary works and gave examples and explanations. I particularly liked the attention paid toLouis Sébastien Mercier, and his views, which was interesting to learn about. Their synthesis presented to be pleasant read and they knew their facts well. It was refreshing to see an assortment of thinkers and writers, and to see their viewpoints. It is a job well done, and eloquently written.
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