Wyl.p5.t4 Enlightenment Synthesis

The Enlightenment ushered in a new Restoration Era where family ties and social hierarchies were not as valued. Previously during the Renaissance and Middle Ages, family connections and the social hierarchy were important aspects of life. The Enlightenment and Restoration Society thought this to be shallow and hypocritical.

“The roots of the Enlightenment started in the French philosophers that dared to challenge the established political beliefs. (Research Question 8)” Enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire and Montesquieu exposed the underpinnings of monarchies and the economic system and favored the Restoration Society. Their radical texts unveiled the influence exerted by the French monarchy and ruling families. They explained about how this influence caused great disparities between the ruling class and the commoners.

Voltaire was a prolific philosopher who was a strong advocate for civil liberties and radical social reform. He produced works about individual freedoms and equal opportunity, such as the freedom of religion and freedom of trade. His writings were made in response to the French monarchy which oppressed its people. Voltaire was all about bringing power back to the common folk.

Montesquieu was another enlightenment thinker who focused primarily on politics. He is credited with the theory of separation of power. Montesquieu studied in depth on the classes of the French people. He realized that only aristocrats held any real power, and decided to voice his opinion on separation of powers to balance power.

Voltaire and Montesquieu were two Enlightenment philosophers who supported Restoration Society.

Team 4: Matthew Wong, Kevin He, Joyce Alexander, Lilian Coie