British account
November 18th, 2008 by dianlestariMajoring in British Civilization, this is just one of my thoughts…
The Enlightenment was an intellectual and a philosophical movement that happened in Europe in the late 17th century and 18th century. The word « Enlightenment » originated from English word , means the state of being enlightened. The Enlightenment, known also as The Age of Reason developed mainly in France, Great Britain, and Germany. Then swept over the whole Europe and Scandinavia. In this essay, we will particularly talk about the Enlightenment in Great Britain.
A desire to clear away ancient superstition, dogma, prejudice, to no longer rely on traditions, and to advocate the use of human reason and individualism have aroused the thinkers at that time to bring many humanitarian reforms. Each thinker had a different contribution to the development of the Enlightenment. For example, one may contributed in science whilst other in politics, or philosophy.
But, they all had the same belief, the powers of humankind. They also wished to awaken the sleeping giant in human state of mind, and left behind their reliance on doctrine and superstitious belief.
In this essay, we will concentrated with the Enlightenment in Great Britain. We will see more specifically what the thinkers had shared during The Age of Enlightenment, in Science, Religion, Politics, and Philosophy. And in each aspect, we will see the prominent thinkers who had encouraged the development of human reason. Finally, we will see how did the Enlightenment influences European societies and the world eventually.
I. Science
The Enlightenment was marked by a keen interest in science. The thinkers wanted to have a control over science
1. The prominent thinker : Isaac Newton (1642-1727)
It was all first started by the theory of astronomy from Copernicus, and the heliocentric view from Galileo. Then as the culmination of the movement, Sir Isaac Newton, a prodigious scientist and mathematician, published his book Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica ( often called Principia Mathematica for short) which became a peak influence at the 17th century.
« That man ( Sir Isaac Newton), guided by the light of reason, could explain all natural phenomena and could embark on the study of his own place in a world that no longer mysterious. » (Encylopedia Britannica)
2. The effects
Sir Isaac Newton was a supremely important thinker among those who contributed to the climate of the Enlightenment. His new system brought the certainties into a world of doubts. One of the most famous thought invented by him is « The Universal Law of Gravitation » which were a very precious theory for the world until today. Science was one of the strong aspect that encouraged the people to leave behind the traditions, the emotions and begun to trust the power of human reason in themselves. Then there was also Religion which had also made some strong changes to the society.
II. Religion
Religion was one of the principal target that the Enlightenment thinkers combat with. There was a hostility towards established forms of religion. Most enlightenment thinkers regarded traditional churches, Catholic and Protestant as an engines of institutional exploitation. As they believed in the use of logic and human reason, they objected all forms of miracles and other forms of divine intervention. The adherents of Enlightenment shared an intellectual aversion to theism, thus by the 18th century, atheism made its public debut.
1. The prominent thinker : David Hume ( 1711-1776)
David Hume was the most influential thinker in field of religion. He criticized the proof of God’s existence, the rationality of belief in miracles and the connection between morality and religion. On his essay « of Miracles » , he said that a miracle is a violation of the laws of nature, it is unreasonable for anyone to believe in testimonies involving miraculous. He concluded that Christianity needed to believe in miracles, but such belief involved the act of faith and not the act of reason.
2. The effects
The search for a rational religion led to several new religions, such as atheism, deism, or natural religion. Their appearance has transformed European religions. The power of religion diminished gradually in England, and eventually in Europe. There were more promotion of religious tolerance and the freedom of the belief of individual.
The Enlightenment not only wanted to be free from the domination of religion, but it also desired to construct a government free from tyranny, we will then see the political aspect of the Enlightenment.
III. Politics
On the continent of Europe, most of the countries were ruled by the powerful Monarchs. The people who had been oppressed by the system of Absolutism monarch, could not stand for it anymore and wanted to have the freedom as they were eligible to. The Enlightenment had seen a profound revolution in political thought. There were many thinkers who had given a big contribution to the revolution of the Enlightenment political thought. They were Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Voltaire (French), Montesquieu ( French) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau ( French), we will particularly talk about the English political thinkers in this point.
1. The prominent thinker : Thomas Hobbes ( 1588-1662)
Thomas Hobbes was best known for his political thought. He was the first political thinker to propose a purely secular theory of political authority. His most famous book « Leviathan », in which he argued that civil peace and social unity are best achieved by the establishment of « social contract ». Although he preferred monarchy to other form of government, his main concern that the effective government ( whatever the form is) must have an absolute authority.
Other great philosopher, John Locke had a different idea with Hobbes, Locke criticized absolute monarchy and favoured the idea of self government.
« Locke also advocated governmental checks and balances and believed that revolution is not only a right but an obligation in some circumstances. » ency. Concise Britannica
2. The effects
In Great Britain, the Absolutism monarch system had been successfully defeated or overthrown. Their success made no doubt every country in Europe to fight in order to enjoy the same degree of freedom of thought and expression. In a larger term, the Enlightenment political thought also gave an influence to the formation of American government ( Constitution of The United States) and to the rest of the world, the system of the separation of powers for example ( executive, legislature, and judiciary).
The thinkers of the Enlightenment has inspired the people to dare to leave the world of tyranny. The political system in Europe experienced a big change then, from the Absolutism monarch to the freedom. All of this could happen, was grace by the philosophers from the Enlightenment who has inspired the people and shared their thoughts. We are then going to see philosophical aspect from the Enlightenment.
IV. Philosophy
Anything which cannot be understood by human rational was defied as superstitious. Hence philosophy became very popular among the intellectual thinkers. Although it is difficult to find positive doctrines common from them, but there is a optimism of progression through science and education. The thought of natural right was the base of the ideal philosophy of the enlightenment.
1. The prominent character : John Locke (1632-1704)
John Locke is was one of the greatest British philosopher from The Age of Enlightenment, he shared his thoughts in politics an philosophy. As the most influential philosopher, he and Sir Isaac Newton were both considered as the true fathers of the Enlightenment. His writings about education, toleration and morality were taken as purely critical inquiry. John Locke believed that learning comes about only through education, and people should educated themselves and to have knowledge.
2. The effects
In France, they begun the publication of encyclopedia, while in Great Britain, they published the press.
All these acts were helping people in opening their mind and began to believe in human reason than traditions.
The major champions of these concepts are the philosophers, who popularised and inspired the public with general reading. The philosophical view of human rationality has created an international system of thought. People started using their knowledge since.
The development of the Enlightenment in great Britain influenced in some aspects of society they are scientific aspect, religious aspect, political aspect and philosophical aspect. Each aspect gave a different a different contribution to the progression of the Enlightenment. But they all aimed in one goal, the use of human reason.
There are many thinkers of the Enlightenment, not only from Great Britain, but also from France and German. Each thinker, whether they brought a small or a big contribution to the climate of the Enlightenment, or even the difference doctrines between each thinker. At some point, they all had won to make a change from a period where human believed in superstitious to a period where human based on their reason.
Before the scientific revolution, people accepted the mystery of nature as a part of God’s secret, but when the scientist begun to discovered these mysteries can be explained scientifically, people begun to have change their way of thought of God. In my point of view, the Enlightenment has brought a positive effect to the world
The succession of scientific revolution gave human a confidence that human reason could solve problems. Thanks to the philosophers that encouraged the people to use their reason ability to judge what is right and what is wrong.
