Thinkers Of The Enlightenment Essay, Research Paper
After the Middle Ages, peasants moved from rural areas to towns in search of increased
freedom. They soon began to realize that things need not follow the traditions that dated back
centuries, that they had a right to form their own ideas, own opinions, and own system of
government despite their status. The two obstacles they faced were absolutist kings and dogmatic
churches, yet despite these the central ideas flourished: individuality, freedom, self-sufficiency,
and
creativity. In this environment, the philosophers flourished. What was most surprising is that the
most enthusiastic followers were among the upper class.
Voltaire, joined by an army of philosophes: Charles Montesquieu, Pierre Bayle and Jean
d?Alembert, fit in easily among the aristocracy. He dined at their tables, corresponded with
monarchs, and took a high-titled mistress. He opposed the traditional uptight French beliefs, but
had no interest in democracy, as he had far too little faith in the common fan for such a
government. He believed that the educated person could come to see what changes were
necessary in the world. Yet all Enlightenment thinkers were not like Voltaire. He was heavily
opposed by Rosseau, who distrusted aristocrats because he thought they betrayed decent
traditional values, and argued for democracy. When Voltaire
was impossible, Rosseau countered by saying not only was inequality unnatural, it was damaging
to the governmental system. Voltaire played his hand on intellect, and Rosseau emphasized
emotion, not only contributing this theme to the Enlightenment, but to the romantic age later on.
While Voltaire endlessly repeated the same handful of Enlightenment notions, Rosseau?s ideas
sparked in wildly original flames. Though they would probably deny it, the two shared many
values. They both viewed absolutism as evil, and rejected orthodox Christianity. Both were
religious skeptics, their minimalist faith leading to the eventual transformation of the English
system of religion. Many of their views, shared or not, were used as a basis for the French
Enlightenment.
France was not the only time going through a period of great change. Great Britain also
developed a new breed of free-thinkers, such as John Lock and David Hume. They led the
king to having an open-mind to change, despite his powerful position as a monarch. Quakers
and Unitarians broke through the dogmatic barriers, which delighted Voltaire when he found
himself their in exile. Since England?s revolution was already out of the way, they were able to
proceed smoothly and gradually down the road to exile, with the power of aristocracy and
religion diminishing gradually.