How Did The Enlightenment Influence The Concept Of Egalitarianism
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The French Revolution starting in 1789 was a consequence of the political concept Egalitarianism. Egalitarianism was an ideology stemming from the Enlightenment movement of the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Enlightenment was a movement that occurred between 1685 and 1815 it was referred to by its participants as the ‘Age of reason’ because traditional ideas on society were challenged by new knowledge. The enlightenment brought about dramatic revolutions in science, philosophy, society and government. The Enlightenment thinkers throughout Europe questioned traditional authority and embraced the idea that man could improve through rational change. The Enlightenment produced numerous books, essays, inventions, scientific discoveries, laws, wars…show more content… The political concept of egalitarianism has been one of the most influential things for revolutions since the enlightenment. In a legal view, it is a political doctrine that declares that all people should be treated as equals from birth, usually meaning held equal under the law and in society at large. Political Egalitarianism has four different parts to it Legal egalitarianism, social egalitarianism, religious and spiritual egalitarianism and military egalitarianism. The ideology of the Enlightenment influenced the notion of Egalitarianism. The Enlightenment brought ideas of scientific discipline and knowledge being created and shared through everyone, not just those of specific social rankings, it also brought ideas of other forms of government that aren’t oppressive such as democracy and republicanism. The main concept of natural rights and equality of the Enlightenment was used through Egalitarianism with both the American Revolution and the French Revolution. French revolutionary ideas drew heavily on the political philosophy of the Enlightenment and the compositions of the philosophers. One of the most obvious ways that the Enlightenment influenced the French Revolution was the Guillotine that was created during the Enlightenment period as a strong symbol of Egalitarianism. It suggested that no matter what social class a person was in, they were to die in the same way and under the same equipment as people who were in the lower social