Values of the Enlightenment, Essay Example

Renaissance marked a new era of scientific, cultural, and moral development. It created absolutely different way of thinking and enabled further progress of society. Thus, 17^th century is considered to be the age of rationalism. During that time people used to explain certain events, historical facts, human relationships through reasoning. Antoine Arnauld, Amis de Spinoza, Blaise Pascal, Francis Bacon and other philosophers tried to critically evaluate human affairs and political ideas. This attempt shaped another epoch that succeeded Era of Reason. Age of Enlightenment is considered to be a time, in which legitimacy for power was laid on reasoning as the way of evaluation of authenticity and veracity. Therefore, during that time people not only tried to explain some ordinary events, but also evaluate their legality in terms of human rights and correctness. This period of time is marked by a tendency or rising values and principals, on which human society is based. Rationality, human dignity and rights, basic law, formation of governmental forms are key terms that accompany Age of Enlightenment.

During the 18^th century France becomes a center of Enlightenment Age. Charles-Louis Montesquieu and Walter Scott are considered as prominent philosophers and writers of that time. Major topics of their literary works are governmental forms, division of the society into classes, tolerance, and social progress.

In “The Spirit of Laws” Charles Montesquieu continues research of John Locke and his theory of legitimate government. Author classifies government into three major groups: monarchical, republican, and despotic. Montesquieu critically analyses these forms of power and defines the only one, he considers being right. Philosopher describes main principal of correct organization of society that lies in meeting rights of ordinary citizens. He calls “principles” of the society to be motives that drive people to support one or another form of government. According to Montesquieu, democracy is driven by the love of community and putting interests of a group of people ahead of one’s own benefits. In “Persian Letters” philosopher expressed humanism, national identity, logics and reason. He defined the way, by which French revolution and its new ideas should flow. Secondly, Montesquieu emphasized the fact that dignity and human values were significant factors that defined ethics.

Unlike Charles Montesquieu, Voltaire supported absolutism and tried to explain new ideas of Enlightenment to European Monarchs. He was against tremendous role of church in human affairs. In his literary work “Candide” philosopher distrusted the very basic idea of democracy. He did not reject its beliefs and principals as being false or misleading, but simply considered that person had enough power to survive without them. Voltaire tried to express the idea of social progress and thought that traditions should be avoided if they prevented society form further development. In his works he depicted bourgeoisie society, aristocracy, church as useless and ineffective members of the society. Despite the fact that he had his own view on the basic principals of society, he also supported the idea of human rights, freedom and opportunity to choose their own religion.

Both Voltaire and Charles Montesquieu were human centered. By no means they tried to mistreat certain human rights or somehow negatively affect person’s dignity. They supported the idea of rationality and reasoning. In fact, according to them every single action should have been supported by reason. Each legal issue should have been provided with certain lawful background and explanation. These philosophers respected veracity and trustworthy. Voltaire, Charles Montesquieu and many other prominent people of the Age on Enlightenment supported moral principles that we have now. Actually, they were the founders of the values of today’s society.

It is rather hard to compare values that modern well-known philosophers have with those established many years ago. For instance, there is a new trend of analyzing the society based on personal basis. This means that goals, views, and values of every single person are now considered as extremely important. Protection of human rights made people look not for the greatest good for the greatest number of people, but rather fit a single person needs. Thus, modern philosophers investigate person more closely and define those values that should be acquired by the person, but not by the group of people or by the nation. Most likely our modern values contradict the principal of reasoning that was so popular during the Age of Enlightenment. The term value is now defined as “a fair return or equivalent in goods, services, or money for something exchanged” or “monetary worth of something” (value).

In conclusion I want to write that it is very important to be aware about different ways people see society and reason our lives. History has numerous trends and nowadays brings yet new approaches. But being informed about what happened in the past and observing what present creates, you will be able to have a strong personal opinion.

Works Cited

“Charles-Louis de Secondat, baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 08 Mar. 2009 <http:/ /www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/390782/Charles-Louis-de-Secondat-baron-de-la-Brede-et-de-Montesquieu>.

“value.” Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 8 March 2009 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/value>.

“Voltaire.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 08 Mar. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/632488/Voltaire>.