Western Civilization Since 1715

HIST1002

Dr. Timothy G. McMahon

June 15, 2012

Introduction:

In History 1002: Western Civilization since 1715, we have covered many important historical event since 17th Century. The Enlightenment was a philosophical and literary movement in the 18th century Europe that sought to improve the human condition and advance knowledge. It promoted science and intellectual interchange and opposed superstition, intolerance and abuses in church and state. Some key figures in the enlightenment are Immanuel Kant, Denis Diderot Adam, Marquis de Condorcet, Francois- Marie de Voltaire, Montesquieu, Roussea, and J.G Herder. At the end of the eighteenth century, the Enlightenment Movement had obtained its rapid development; however, at the same time, the accompanying elements to the resistance of ideological and cultural movement of the core concepts also had always been there. This is the so-called the Counter-Enlightenment (Garrard, 2003). Actually, the members of the movement had its complex ingredients, involving in the Catholic church, Jesus and RanSen associations, ordinary clergy, the royal family of the royal government, ministers and a great many scholars of Counter-Enlightenment. They largely made use of the way of the Enlightenment to oppose Enlightenment thought in publications and public space to against the Enlightenment by questions in order to influence and charge the public opinions.

Thus, in this essay, it mainly focuses on the reasons for the appearance of the people who questioned the Enlightenment from two main aspects, such as the church and the monarchy and the other scholars.

The questions of the church and the monarchy toward the Enlightenment

Actually, the fundamental antagonism between the foundational ideas and theories of the old system and the Enlightenment doctrines is the most important reason for the appearance of Counter-Enlightenment. At that period, most European countries, such as France and England, were typical of absolute...