The Enlightenment era (Essay Sample)

Assignment’s Title: Enlightenment era Student’s Name: Course Title: Instructor’s Name: Date: Introduction The era of enlightenment shaped the current European society and the world as a whole. Ideas developed during this period revolutionized the way in which the public relates to the government. This era resulted in widespread changes in government, politics, and the entire society. During this period, individuals developed a critical thinking approach. Through this thinking, they were able to challenge the existing monarchs, religious leaders and other leaders whom they saw as unsatisfactory (Ben, 7). Philosophers emerged and raised theories which they believed could improve the status of the society at that time. Other individuals emphasized empiricism, and rational thinking as a way to solve problems that had crippled the community for a long time. Most of the problems have resulted from poor leadership with the citizens unable to challenge the dominant rulers. Thinkers at that time thought without bias. They were determined to eradicate problems that the society was witnessing at that point. The redefining of the relationship between the people and the government was the principal achievement of the Enlightenment seen during this period. Discussion The enlightenment era brought changes to the manner in which the government relates to the society. The key adjustment during this period was the application of reason to solving problems that existed rather than relying on religion to solve the world problems. Before this time, the society believed in religious leaders who were very powerful and remained unchallenged. Individuals believed in religion, and no one could question or challenge its legitimacy and power. However, the enlightenment era witnessed a shift from this perception and believed. During this period, citizens were armed with knowledge and hence able to challenge the religious leaders and institutions. During this era, philosophy and politics were altered to suit the society. Thinkers across Europe and other parts of the world questioned the manner in which traditional authorities. They believed that drastic rational change was vital in improving the current society. This group of people produced writings including essays and books. The ideas aimed at enlightening the populace. Once the populace got informed, they could challenge the absolute powers of monarchs. This move led to revolutions including the French revolution. The idea of the relationship between the state and the church developed during this era. Before this period, both religious and political leaders had a tendency of enforcing their ideologies on the populace. Churches were unyielding, and the monarchs regulated religion. However, during the Enlightenment era, John Locke stated that such move was not good for the general populace. He said that there were no any means in which individuals could ascertain the true religion. According to him, the state should encourage diversity of worship as a means of giving freedom to its citizens. Despite the fact he did not possess any strong religious beliefs, his ideas on tolerance of religious diversity remain key to the modern society. John also argued that any action that the government performed should be in its attempt to benefit the populace rather than for the spirit of the populace. By this argument, he implied that the government should aim its efforts at promoting the well-being of the citizens from whom it gets the consent to rule. According to him, monarchs were old and inefficient and could not be trusted to safeguard the welfare of the society. He proposed a representative form of government that could guarantee the people protection of their property. This move was not only vital for the populace but also for the peace of the state. This argument has influence from the pre-enlightenment era in which rulers took actions that benefited them and not the populace. Before this period, the government was very wasteful and citizens had no any means of compelling the government to be a responsible act in a manner which could improve the lives of the citizens. However, analytical philosophers thought that this trend had to end. They argued that redefining the relationship between this two groups was crucial for the survival of the society. In the argument, J. J Rousseau claimed that the government had a responsibility of protecting the liberty of all citizens as a whole. Even though he fell short of compelling the government to observe the rights of each citizen individually, his argument is clear that the government have the responsibility of maintaining order and the well-being of all citizens. On the other hand, the citizens had a role of observing the law. This argument clearly indicates that there was a need for the responsibilities of the government and the society to be defined in a better manner. The argument borrows from problems experienced during the pre-enlightenment eras. During this periods, the community experienced massive problems due to poor governance. Another fundamental idea that arose during this period was the legitimacy of the authority and their relationship to the governed. In his argument, John Locke stated that the government gets power and authority to lead the people (John, 17). Before this era, the state monarchs had absolute powers which compelled the governed to obey without question. The governments did not heed to the voice of the governed. Rather, they forcefully forced their subjects to follow rules that they set. The argument by John Locke played a key role in redefining this relationship. John Locke’s argument based on the fact that without the people, there is no a government. Hence the government should heed to the cries of the governed and help them solve their problems. Development of the ideas of human rights and justice took place during this era. Before this period, leaders had absolute powers and regulated the freedom of the populace through force and other forms of mistreatment. This activity compelled thinkers and philosophers to come up with theories that enlightened the civilians that they should enjoy their rights. The philosophers also emphasized on the fact that citizens should enjoy happiness while still under the government. The authorities, however, did not take such teachings positive and ended up censoring and banning music, books and other forms of arts that aimed at enlightening the citizens. Before this era, Plato had argued that justice was key to any society. Freedom and peace remained at the center of his argument, and the state had a role of providing a good life to the populace. His argument influenced later philosophers who wrote books and essays on the need for justice in the society. These arguments made citizens demand justice from the government. This move led to revolutions as citizens demanded respect for their rights from the government. The ideas of rising to revolution became widespread during this era. Armed with the knowledge that the government had a responsibility to protect them and guarantee them security, most people thought that the government was not doing enough to provide for their need. Others thought that the government was reluctant to protect and guarantee them their rights. Most of them used arguments made by J.J Rousseau (Rousseau, 9) on the social contract and the need for the government to ensure goodness to all human beings. Such people resulted to revolution once they felt that the government did not fulfill its mandate. Before this era, King John had signed the Magna Carta in 1215, guaranteeing the noble individuals protection for their human rights. However, philosophers found out that there were more rights that citizens ought to enjoy. This move compelled most of them to write books on the rights citizens should enjoy. Citizens in some nations such as France resulted in the revolution to force the government to act in a responsible way. Another ideology that produced from this era was the idea of separation of powers. This move was vital as it helped establish checks and balances needed for the efficient running of the government. During the pre-enlightenment era, there were no methods in which the society could separate its rights from the influence of the rulers. This approach resulted in the leaders being so inefficient and with no one to regulate their actions. Critical philosophers such as Montesquieu argued that if the society could be able to limit the power of the government, they could make it more efficient. By creating the checks and balances, government leaders could be made more helpful and hence benefit the society. The system will hold the authorities accountable to the people to ensure that they do not misuse their powers to oppress the populace. Critical philosophers advocated the idea of Rationalism in solving problems that existed in the society at that time. They argued that logic was essential to resolve these problems rather than using observation. Writers such as J.J Rousseau argued that reasoning could solve conflicts that existed between the state and the society (Rousseau, 9). The state should recognize that some rights of people were inalienable and hence denying these rights could go against their will and cause problems between these two groups of people. He emphasized the need for establishing order in politics. This move was vital for helping the society avoid issues that could result in the people and the governm...