Genre Studies Unit- II Enlightenment
Unit- II
Enlightenment
The roots of Neoclassicism lie in the Enlightenment. The underlying beliefs and principles of the enlightenment deeply influenced neoclassical writers.
The Enlightenment: History
The intellectual foundations of the Enlightenment were laid by the German philosophers Kant and Hegel
The French Enlightenment thinkers had a direct and mutual influence on the British
Newtonian science and Lockean philosophy influenced this new class of intellectuals in France, who were free thinkers in religion and radicals in politics.
They promoted the systematic application of reason to discover knowledge of human life. To improve human existence through the development of non-authoritarian social and political systems.
Enlightenment fuelled American and french revolutions
The term "Enlightenment" gained currency from the late 19th century.
The Enlightenment Philosophes
The philosophes were a heterogeneous mix of people who pursued a variety of intellectual interests, but United by a few common themes - Human beings are not perfect, desire to dispel wrong systems of thought (such as religion), dedication to systematizing the various intellectual disciplines.
Their rallying cry was for Progress - Understanding "natural laws", Overcoming religious "ignorance", social/ political reform.
Another important idea was tolerance
The greatest human crimes have been perpetrated in the name of religion and the name of God.
A fair, just and productive society absolutely depends on religious tolerance.
Status of women during the Enlightenment
Women were financially and socially more independent in the Renaissance period than in the Augustan period.
A few women were beginning to write and engage in political and philosophical debates, but generally the status of women was seriously degraded.
Women were not given equality socially and intellectually
There were clearly divided public and private spaces, with women relegated to the private domesticity.
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