...The so-called long Age of Enlightenment in Europe, stretching from the mid-17th century into the 1830s, engendered new political, economic and social ideals and generated knowledge across the arts and sciences. But part of its impetus was outside of Europe. Dorinda Outram likens the European Enlightenment to" a world drama of cross-cultural contact" that "triggered anxieties" for Europeans about the nature of being civilized (Outram, 2004). To the 17th century English philosopher John Locke, an early archetype of an enlightened thinker, the discovery of the New World of America "enlarged the sphere of contemplation" about "civilized man" and his "savage ancestors" (Locke, 1690). There was more to discover. The scientific journeys of exploration around the Pacific in the 18th century by James Cook, another archetypal figure of the Enlightenment, were significant in creating the imagination and knowledge of the age. Although the Enlightenment was a European phenomenon, its scope became global as the scholars of Europe attempted to classify and order the peoples, plants and animals of other worlds as well as map their landscapes. Maori scholar Linda Tuhiwai Smith succinctly sums up the process: "They came, they saw, they named, they claimed" (Tuhiwai Smith, 2001, p. 80). 'Discovery' was the watchword of the Enlightenment (Porter, 2000), realised only by a few Europeans but imagined by many others and evident in the fashion for paintings of drawing room explorations with globes ahd...
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...This essay explains three key features of the Age of Enlightenment that include liberalism, rationalism and equality. These key features will be explained in terms of how they reflect specific assumptions about children and education. Furthermore to evaluate how these ideas have impacted children’s education in both the past and the present. Liberalism requires members of society to develop liberal ideas such as individualism and independence amongst the likes of John Locke who wrote a book called ‘Some thought Concerning Education’ (1893) which emphasises the significance of early education in the home. “upbringing in the home is crucial for the development of good character” (May, 1997, p. 3). Rationalism is another imperative feature of the Age of Enlightenment as people used theory to make sense of human development along the likes of Rousseau. His book, ‘Emile’ is about the development of a young boy becoming a man using his ideas for child rearing. “education should be a response to the child’s curiosity and interest to natural world.” (May, p. 39-40, 2005) This theory was put into practice by Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi who was so impressed with his ideas that “he attempted to rear his child according to Rousseau’s principles” (May, 1997, p. 11). The Enlightenment implies equality necessary for females to be educated alongside men to allow for equal opportunity. In Wollstonecraft’s book ‘A Vindication of the Rights of Women’ (1792) she protests for women’s rights...
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...The Age of Enlightenment was the period of scientific Awakening; The Age of Enlightenment was mainly around France. The enlightenment attacked the church head on focusing issues that have been avoided in the past. This took courage to try to defy the church. The Enlightenment let people question anything such as “was the earth the center of the universe” like the church said it was or is the Earth flat. There were 4 main areas which changed occurred was in Religion, Intellectual, Economic, and political. In religion, Questioning of Catholic beliefs and Protestantism led to tolerance for new ideas occurred. In, Intellectual, Free intellectual inquiry resulted from widespread opposition to religious intolerance, the French revolution led to 'age...
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...Hattar 3 Anthony Hattar SAO Herr Human Culture and Thought II November 2015 CP 5 In the Enlightenment Age there was a huge shift in how people thought. Intellectually people began to change their views on the world and society. This was happening because of new methods and discoveries that were achieved in the Scientific Revolution in the 16th and 17th centuries. This created a snow ball effect, small discoveries led to bigger ones and before the world knew if two centuries of philosophy and innovation had occurred. Things that probably had a huge impact where earth science and astronomy. Examples of is this the armillary sphere. It is an instrument that models the celestial sphere with respect to the horizon of an observer. It is made up of rings representing the great circles on the celestial sphere such as the horizon, the celestial equator, the colures and the ecliptic. They can be adjusted to any latitude and can be used either as an instrument of observation or as a tool of demonstration. This tool helped aid in navigation. Because of this tool people were able to navigate farther at sea. This exposed to people to new things. Creating the desire of things that people normally wouldn?t have. One can only associate this with a better life. Trade was created opening up more wealth for people. Because of things like this...
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...that dominated in the society of that time. People were tired of the inviolable order that reigned in their life. Almost all countries were monarchies. It meant that life of people was limited and subjected to the kings’ rule. People were oppressed and did not have their needs satisfied. These were the main causes of the French Revolution in 1789 and the Industrial Revolution in England. The aim of people to be free in their opportunities and to raise the living standard drove them in their struggle. Thus, all these events show that people wanted to escape from the established order and, perhaps, to abstract from the daily routine and to pay more attention to their feelings and inner world. The Age of Enlightenment that ruled in the eighteenth century was also called the Age of Reason. The reason was considered the basis of all due to it science developed rapidly. However, despite the irrefutable benefit of this period in Europe’s history, the lack of attention to human soul was tangible and prevented the society from the spiritual development. Thus, we can say that Romanticism was a trend that reflected people’s need in the attention to their emotions. With the help of Romanticism people revolted against...
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...Enlightened Literature on Human Nature The Age of Reason, also known as the Enlightenment, was a movement in which the power of reason was employed to rethink and reform society as a whole as well as various other concepts of human existence. During that time period (about 1650-1800), numerous thinkers such as John Locke, Isaac Newton and Voltaire exercised reason to challenge the basis of their society, which was built on the premise of an Almighty God. Prior to the Enlightenment, the answer to countless questions was only known to God and God alone; however, with the deterioration of this presumption, man was left to discover everything he once believed to be incomprehensible. These noble men questioned religion, science, mathematics and eventually came to question how men should be governed, how money and economics should function and how the human race should operate. The examination of mankind led to many varying philosophies that depicted men as wild, blood-thirsty beasts of passion or sensible, upright creatures, creating juxtaposition. Many forms of writing were directly influenced by the social and philosophical measures this time period contained. Articulated in the literature was man’s questioning of every idea that was once certain, promoting the desire to examine human nature. The influx of knowledge and reason combine with the rebuttal against the idea of an omniscient deity heavily influenced Enlightenment literature. With the invention of the printing press...
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...What was the Enlightenment’s most important contribution to the age of Atlantic Revolution? * The establishment of reason, logic, and rationality in society was the Enlightenment’s most important contribution to both the age of Atlantic Revolution and to the future of society as a whole. * This is not to say that people of reason and logic did not previously exist; however, due to religious superstition, controlling governments, socioeconomic rank, poverty, and prejudice, society was not conducive to the development of new ideas, especially those that promoted change. * Many philosophers believed that reason alone could reveal archetypical truths about the world and life. * This led to the explosion of using science (thus logic and reason) to try to explain natural phenomena. * This implies that people went against the belief that the supernatural and godly works are solely responsible for every aspect of life (and outcomes of decisions) * Thus came the idea that we, as humans, can control our own destiny with our own decisions, and that we might not have a set, predestined life. * Atheism becomes an important aspect to the Enlightenment * God’s role becomes reduced in the minds of many people – from the ultimate controller of absolutely everything to an idle watcher of events and determiner of afterlife * Reason and logic also led to a literary explosion * Filled with novel ideas coming...
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...Top Ten Assignment The Enlightenment and Romanic Ages produced numerous masterpieces in art, music, architecture, and literature which people still enjoy today. These opus magnums along with the philosophies during the two periods are reflections of the developments in world events and cultural patterns. This paper will present two pieces of art, music, architecture, literature, and philosophy from the Enlightenment and Romanic Ages that best represents the developments patterns from that time. Philosophy in the Enlightenment Age focused on an individual’s right to life and liberty. One example of a philosopher from this age is Thomas Jefferson. He famously wrote the Declaration of Independence (1776) that the Continental Congress signed declaring the United States free from the oppression of England. The document begins with, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” (us history, 2013). Another such example of philosophy during the Enlightenment Age are the works of Thomas Paine. He wrote two of the most highly influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution. One such pamphlet is Common Sense (1776) (us history, 2011) the all-time bestselling book that advocates America’s independence from Great Britain. Thomas Jefferson and Thomas Paine were chosen as examples because we believe the Declaration...
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...On merriam-webster.com the word enlightenment is defined as “the state of having knowledge or understanding : the act of giving someone knowledge or understanding”. When applied to an era, such as The Age of Enlightenment, it denotes a cultural and intellectual increase. The Age of Enlightenment was located in Western Europe and was fueled by the desire of people to question anything and everything. Before the Enlightenment nobody questioned hypotheses of the past because there was a feeling of regression as time passed. As Enlightenment thinkers questioned many thoughts through their literature one that appears numerous times is the idea of good and evil. During The Age of Enlightenment writers like Moliere and Voltaire really explored the idea of good and evil. Moliere explores the idea of good and evil through his play Tartuffe. In Tartuffe Dorine speaks about Orgon saying “But what's evil is seeing the deception and upheaval of the master and everything he owns”(P.20 L.37). When Dorine says this it sounds as if Orgon is turning evil, which challenges the traditional beliefs that humans are naturally evil. For example, during Medieval times the popular belief was humans needed to believe in God and follow biblical rules to save their souls. By the...
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...Tracye Taylor History 102 January 13, 2008 Candide Essay Assignment Candide, published in 1759 by Frances Voltaire, sketches a portrait of the human condition from Voltaire’s standpoint during the Age of Enlightenment. As a work of historical literature, Candide is not on the same level as a law, treatise or constitution. Laws and constitutions refer to principles and practices that are binding by a controlling authority; a treatise is more formal and systematic in writing, as in Voltaire: A Treatise on Toleration (1763). This novel is analogous to a personal letter in that it expresses to the reader Voltaire’s personal opposition to certain 18th century Enlightenment ideas. Candide is a fascinating work of fiction; however, the ideals and concepts, as well as the various struggles that Candide endures are very real regarding nobility, philosophy, the church, and cruelty which took place in Early Modern Europe. Candide is the main character of the novel. He is described in the beginning as being “endowed by nature with the gentlest of characters”. He is a naive and innocent young man who places his faith in the teachings of his tutor Dr. Pangloss. Candide believes the doctor’s conviction that “all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds”. During the course of the story, Candide is cast out into the world and endures a seemingly endless series of encounters with cruelty, hypocrisy, ignorance, and brutality. These encounters eventually reshape...
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...The Small Enlightenment in Prussia and German States The Enlightenment was an expansive intellectual, philosophical, cultural, and social movement that spread throughout much of Europe during the 1700s. The Enlightenment was largely made possible by the Scientific Revolution which began in the 1500s and represented the biggest departure from The Middle Ages. After millenniums of obedience to the Church people started to break away from a long spell of ignorance and began to question ideas relating to society and nature. A period also known as ‘The Age of Reason’ saw the emergence of intellectuals advancing knowledge unlike ever before. What resulted were pivotal discoveries in the fields of mathematics, astronomy, physics, politics, economics, philosophy, music, and medicine that shaped the Western world for decades and centuries to come. While The Enlightenment didn’t help produce a revolutionary outcome such as in France, Prussia and German states still experienced a fair share of intellectual development during this time. Since Germany was divided into a multitude of smaller states, with different languages and influences, The Enlightenment didn’t have a full blown effect. Moreover, the combination of popular discontent with the Church and a fury of dissatisfaction among the nobility and middle class such as in France wasn’t entirely present in Prussia. Nonetheless, Frederick II the Great, the King of Prussia, borrowed ideas from other parts of Europe in an attempt...
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...Phillis Wheatley, called “To S.M., a Young African Painter, on Seeing his Works.” This poem was written during the enlightenment period. I particularly chose this poem because I always had an interest in reading about African literature and how over time equal rights for everyone became a success. Upon reading this poem, which was slightly difficult to understand, Wheatley communicates about how powerful imagination can be. She mentions how imagination can give an artist the ability to go beyond their limits to the point were there are no longer any more limitations. She points out a painter several times which I am not sure who she is referring to yet. I am assuming it is an African painter at that time. The one aspect of the work that really sparked my interest was when Wheatley said, “But when these shades of time are chas’d away, and darkness ends in everlasting day” (To S.M., A Young Painter, n.d., para. 2),which I think she implies that when this era of slavery and racism passes the darkness (harsh times) will end and there will be daylight or good times. Analysis of the Work Phillis Wheatley was a writer who greatly differed from other writers in American literature mostly because of her word choice she chose in her writing. She was originally born in Africa and brought to England where she was sold and raised into slavery during the enlightenment period. She was brought to America as a slave and the owners that bought her took great interest in her education...
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...The Enlightenment and the Great Awakening affected American colonists society. The Age of Enlightenment stressed the energy of human motivation to shape the world, to better instruct men and ladies. The Great Awakening bound areas together, and furthermore acknowledgment of religious resistance. These two developments of the eighteenth century significantly affected American culture and how individuals think prior and then afterward these events. The Enlightenment changed individuals' view on national issues, religion, and human instinct, and The Great Awakening acknowledged religious resilience. As a matter of first importance, the Age of Enlightenment primarily impacted taught individuals in the American states. Despite the fact...
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...The enlightenment is a social and intellectual movement that on its face seems extremely critical of contemporary social and political institutions, and the point that Kant is writing is extremely critical of traditional authorities. In Immanuel Kant’s essay ‘‘What is Enlightenment?’’ he is explaining what the meaning of Enlightenment is and how the general public could reach this. At the same time he is trying to reassure those authorities that the movement is not threatening and it's not something that needs to be oppressed. For him the enlightenment is “the human being’s emergence from his self incurred immaturity”. Simply meaning that an individual is able to grasp his own understanding without guidance from another man. Though the Enlightenment movement delivered the motivation to have courage to separate from one's guardians it doesn't rationalize that an individual's own reason to come to a conclusion will always be influenced by societies and cultures....
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...practiced what we now refer to as applied science and mathematics. The discoveries made during these times were sought for practical uses. Counting could’ve been the fundamental beginning of recording information. (Isenhour, 2013) Babylonians, Egyptians and other ancient civilizations practiced astronomy and engineering. Astronomy was and is still useful for the prediction of seasons and defining times for planting and harvesting. Geometry was used to construct buildings and design irrigation ditches and also is the main foundation for mechanical engineering. In 600 B.C. and up, there was increase of a metallurgical culture and it hasn’t stopped until this day. Metallurgy and metallurgical advances divide history into great eras such as the Stone Age,...
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