How Did The Enlightenment Contribute To Society

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The Enlightenment’s Contribution to a Modern Society During the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries, the world began to embrace a set of ideals that greatly advanced society. Although there are a multitude of values and concepts that historians consider to be modern, the three most significant are capitalism, individualism, and support of accessible educational institutions. Throughout America and Europe, capitalism emerged and allowed people to increase their social class by procuring great wealth. The Enlightenment, along with the French and American Revolution, led the world toward recognition of man’s unalienable rights. Finally, When Napoleon Bonaparte came to power, one of his top priorities was to provide public education for the…show more content…
In England, leaders in the textile industry created new methods of obtaining raw materials and producing finished products to maximize profit. New production methods allowed businesses to operate more efficiently and receive a greater profit. Taking advantage of the increased demand for consumer goods, the Dutch East India Company was one of the greatest forces behind global commerce. After receiving exclusive rights to trade in the area between the Cape of Good Hope and the Straits of Magellan, it grew to become the largest company of the seventeenth century and the epitome of capitalism. In a capitalistic society, the majority of a nation’s wealth is transferred into the hands of private entities. By rewarding hard work and intelligence, capitalism created a meritocracy in which achievement, not heritage, determined social status. Consequently, capitalism encourages…show more content…
Without knowledge, man is powerless. Denis Diderot, one of the best known Enlightenment thinkers recognized this indisputable truth and sought to bring knowledge to all people. His most significant work, the Encyclopédie, was an attempt to "further knowledge and, by so doing, strike a resounding blow against reactionary forces in church and state" (Diderot). More importantly, he waned the information in his encyclopedia to be publicly available so that even the middle and lower class could educate themselves. Starting in 1804, when Napoleon Bonaparte controlled France, he made an effort to provide public education for his country. Napoleon once said, "of all our institutions public education is the most important. Everything depends on it, the present and the future” (Bonaparte). By providing public education for the entire population, Napoleon created a culture in which literacy was not simply a benefit of
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