A Critique of European Enlightenment, Research Paper Example

For obviously good reasons the European Enlightenment dispensation can be finely categorized into two main distinctively reconciling phases. Looked at within this context, then the discourse will begin by tracing legitimate allegiance to what begun as the so-called Early Modern Scientific Revolution largely crafted around natural philosopher as a reference point. Its core objective was to pose hard and prying questions about the natural world around us that is often otherwise concealed under what is known as nature. It also witnessed the emancipation of genuine scientific intelligentsia from the dominance of traditional dogma feted on Christian theology under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church (Elledge & Schier, 1970).

Early Modern Scientific Revolution as a prodigy of the European Enlightenment was not in any way by itself a mutually exclusive genre; on this basis that the second phase of the Enlightenment was steadily brought into the sociopolitical milieu of Europe of the eighteenth century. From the position of question nature and all its attendant forces within the paradigm of scientific knowledge then emerged the need to bring to question equally compelling issues that relate to man and his environment and also amongst fellow men were brought to the spotlight. Of particular relevance is the fact that at the core of this new dispensation lay deep seated questions about the moral posture of humanity. Summing up the major developments that characterized the Enlightenment period, one can vividly allude to several factors; out of which three distinct forceful pillars stand tall. Within the first scope, arguably a new approach to conceptualizing and dealing with nature had emerged built on solid verifiable empirical approaches. Next in line was the enquiry into the possibility of imbibing descriptive and normative scientific reconciliation of natural events devoid of dogmatic insinuations. Finally, it brought forth a new outlook of establishing man’s niche within the context of this dynamic natural world.

In the light of the above mentioned, it is worth stating upfront that considering the enormity of the task of discussing all the contending issues that were actively at play in the European Enlightenment, this essay in consonance with brevity and the supreme desire to enhance precision will deliberately limit the frontiers of this essay to the specific contribution of two French literary icons name Molier and Voltaire, in the respective writings of Tartuff and Candide whose work sufficiently illuminates the Enlightenment dispensation as will be referred to several times in this essay.

Taking a brief look at the historical relevance that influenced both writers reveals a very striking trend of events that in many ways had direct connections with what both writers wrote about. Suffice to recall that France being the setting of much of the work done by both writers during the period under review was girding its loins from the massive fallout effects of the internecine Wars of Religion (Harrison et al, 2000). One of the glaring features of the France of the day was that French social and cultural life could not develop beyond its crude state. Overtime, a need for intellectual off shooting begun to crystallize in France, a situation that the French aristocracy did not hesitate to use a means of engendering intellectualism displayed in philosophy and literature.

Indeed, there is no point in history that there is a record of vast emptiness. Events and incidents make history; so can be said of the French facet of the European Enlightenment which had its own fair share of skirmishes and discontentment. Within the period under review, religion and for that matter Christian faith was intimately connected to the social fabric. It featured in every single detail of the Louis French monarchy and its entrenched legacy. Given the situation that prevailed, sticky issues around the thought sacrilegious misdemeanor remained highly volatile. It is this kind of environment that Moliere had to make his numerous writings including the Tartuffe. Naturally, there is no point arguing against the fact that the write up is generally satirical. The big question then becomes satirical about what? The answer definitely is his day and age. For instance, his work is clearly an assault on the some elements of the Christian dogma that had created a congregation of illusory devotees. Doing this evidently makes him vulnerable of chastisement by the pseudo-religious powers of the day.

Towing a similar line, Voltaire’s Candide perfectly fits a satirical description of the ills of humankind as captured in the writing. Much of the writing is indeed candid preservation of timeless themes that still resonates in our contemporary realities, thus making the content attracting widespread readership. In reading the work of Voltaire it is easy to infer the recurring themes of absolute disregard, if you like rejection of Christianity and its orthodox practices. Progressively, shutting the door on Christianity to provide answers to questions of nature created another leeway for what can be said to be empirical natural religion.

What Candide achieved for its writer is mainly providing the relevant platform by which the religious institution can be exposed for its failures. Voltaire himself a victim of sexual harassment under the hands of religious people in his childhood Jesuit school provides yet another reason for him to hold the church in contempt for ineptitude. A stern social campaigner, Voltaire is reported in the twenty third chapter of Candide to be involved in relentless campaigns against arbitrary executions and extra judicial killings at the behest of state forces. Citing the case of Byng, an officer of the British navy executed on the charge of lacking bravery in battle. The second case involves the gruesome execution of a citizen of Toulouse, on the grounds of a untrue accusation of murder. Both bizarre incidents coupled with his own experience of maltreatment under the look of the religious system crystallized his resolve to tear down the oppressive force of religious dogma on mankind.

Once more within the framework of Voltaire’s Candide, abounds a huge display of satirical optimism of unprecedented proportions. Again the introduction of another character in the eleventh and twelfth chapters draws a marked contrast between the “optimism” much talked about with the pessimistic attitude of this character stemming from her personal history of exposure to tragedies and misfortunes. Voltaire uses the pain and anguish of the lead characters in the Candide to make a case for his own experience of tragedy and persistent misfortunes. Viewed from the narrow lens of the sudden hyperbolical introduction of pessimism in the writing, then there is a subtle reason to believe that Voltaire is loosing touch with the aura of optimism that characterized the enlightenment period. A closer examination however does prove the contrary.

Reference

Elledge, Sc. and Schier, D.(eds). The Continental Model: Selected French Essays of the 17^th Century. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1970.

Fumaroli, Marc. La Querelle des Anciens et des Modernes, Paris: Gallimard Folio, 2001.

Harrison, Charles, Wood, Paul and Gaiger, Jason. Art in Theory, 1648 — 1815, Oxford: Blackwell Publishers, 2000.