The Enlightenment was a time of great scientific and philosophic discovery. However, it strayed from many Renaissance ideals because it placed less importance on family connections and elite social patronage. The time period focused on economic and political equality, which eventually brought about great social changes. The philosophers Mary Wollstonecraft and Jean-Jacques Rousseau both criticized the elite upper class.
Mary Wollstonecraft satirized the wealthy lords of the time by suggesting that women deserved the same rights as men. In her A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects, Wollstonecraft argues that men would be nothing without the women that support them. She rocked the foundation of the elite class by suggesting it was unethical because it did not allow room for the self-made woman. Women during this time were always subjugated, and Wollstonecraft used irony in her work to point out the lack of fairness.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was another philosopher who criticized the wealthy lifestyles of the ruling class by implying the country of France would function more fairly in the form of a direct democracy. In his Of The Social Contract, Or Principles of Political Right, Rousseau argues that “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” He suggests that the ruling class is subjugating the rest of the society and that power must be redistributed amongst all peoples within a country in order to bring about equality. He was a radical thinker of the time.
Fortunately, for Americans, these philosophers brought about the American and French Revolutions.
Team 4: Cody Dunn, Calrton Lew, Stephwn Hwang, Tyler Wong
Wylie. P1. Team 2
ReplyDeleteHey guys! I thought it was interesting that you mentioned Wollstonecraft in your response. Wollstonecraft is someone a bit more modern than the Enlightenment era and how she seemed to "satirize" the wealthy during that time was an interesting twist on a person's perspective of the Enlightenment. And yes, the Enlightenment did place less importance on family matters; however, it was also a turning point for philosophy and scientific discovery, more so than economic equality. Your reference to Rousseau is good because you are clearly stating one of the many important factors of the Enlightenment era. Good job, fellas!