Influential Philosopher Immanuel Kant
His ideas were dominant over other philosophers' about how a government should be run during the beginning of the French Revolution. “Democratic and Aristocratic states are not in their own nature free. Political liberty is to be found only in moderate governments; and even in these it is not always found. It is there only when there is no abuse of power. But constant experience shows us that every man invested with power is apt to use it, and to carry his authority as far as it will go.”
He wrote many pieces over religion. He also had some over government and he thinks that the government should protect our vices and our life, liberty, and property. Then also that government should be based on the extent of which it accomplishes goals. He also held positions in the government. He was first appointed as the secretary to Committee of Foreign affairs.
During the 18th Century, the Enlightenment was introduced in Europe. This new movement brought about modernization of thinking about government and individualism, and reevaluated previous beliefs. The Enlightenment had many new Philosophers who helped spread their views on government. Philosophers were similar in ideas about the rights of citizens and people’s choice of which government they want, however they differed on the reason government existed and governmental power. Overall, the ideas were a substantial departure from previous ideas about human equality, absolute rulers, and the court system.
The reasons as to why this should be handled and not allowed to run rampant is that majority rule silences the minority and also the majority rule is influential in society and has power over the thoughts of people. He argued that the majority can control people through intimidation. He compared the power of a king versus the power of the majority. A king controls physically but the majority in a democracy controls your thoughts and beliefs. In a sense, the King gives you more freedom.
The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement created by many philosophers of the 18th century aimed to change their governments. These philosophers wished for more rights for the people and more representation in a constitutional government instead of the monarchy. Philosophers like Voltaire called for tolerance, reason as the primary source of authority, freedom of religious belief, and freedom of speech and expression. In addition he promoted the separation of religious and state, in order to mark a distance between any organized religion and the nation state. The political philosopher Montesquieu introduced the idea of a separation of powers in a government.
“Cast your whole vote, not a strip of paper merely, but your whole influence. Minority is powerless while it conforms to the majority then; but it is irresistible when it clogs by its whole
Which brings me to the next Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire. Voltaire had a very big impact on society as he encouraged people to start having their own ideas. In Voltaire 's time period people were constantly punished for not agreeing with the church or the government. Voltaire believed that society would be much better off if there was freedom to have your own ideas. Voltaire believed that diversity was the key to success for society as he stated in The Philosophical Dictionary, "To be a good patriot is to wish that one 's city may be enriched by trade, and be powerful by arms"(Voltaire).
Enlightenment philosophers were vital to the development of revolutionary ideas and new governments as they reshaped the way people understood issues such as liberty, equality, and individual rights. Without the values that John Locke, Charles Montesquieu, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau supported, the conditions for the American Revolution and the Constitution that resulted from it would be much different. John Locke’s ideas were extremely influential and I believe that his theories were crucial to the development of American independence. Locke believed that all individuals had natural rights that could not be taken away because they were given by God. As a Catholic, I believe that every person is created in the image and likeness of God, and
The ideas of individualism and liberty that were central to the Enlightenment challenged the authority of the state and the Church, and encouraged people to think for themselves and question established institutions. This led to the development of new political and social theories, such as those put forward by Hobbes, Locke, and de Grouchy. These thinkers believed that the state should protect individual rights and liberties, and that individuals should have the freedom to pursue their own interests and
Jean-Jacque Rousseau - Comparisons with the above two philosophers and opinions on the State and Law. Jean Jacques Rousseau is the third philosopher I wish to discuss. He was a French-Geneva philosopher who is widely believed to have influenced the enlightenment in France and Europe. During the French revolution Rousseau was one of the most respected and popular political theorists. Rousseau believed that men in the state of nature were the most natural and free they could be before they were corrupted by the unnatural grips of civilization.
Allowing people to think freely and come up with their own ideas was what the enlightenment was about. Kant says, “And what a people may not decree for itself can even less be decreed for them by a monarch, for his lawgiving authority rests on his uniting the general public will in his own” (5). What he is saying is that if people cannot think for themselves and make rules for themselves, then the king cannot make these rules for the, because his authority is based on bringing his people together through what they want and believe. I believe that Kant writes it like this to make the reader think about how it is their responsibility to think and make their own decisions. This is also what makes a good king, the ability to allow the people to think and question any laws that are put into place.
He had made a huge influence during the enlightenment era. It was him who led the transcendence from rationalism and empiricism. His theory of justice was also momentous. In contrast to Descartes’ individualistic view of justice, Kant posited a notion of justice that is grounded by the rule of law. We can’t just tap others and necessitate them to be virtuous, because virtue is a free act of the will.
This restriction of freedom allows humans to become lazy and immature which prevents them from becoming Enlightened. Kant argues that once people embrace laziness and immaturity, it becomes difficult to think by one’s self. He believes in the use of two types of reason, the public and private use of reason. He claims that the public use of reason alone can bring mankind into Enlightenment because it is this reasoning that allows groups of people with similar thoughts and criticisms to take a stance on a specific issue and bring it to the attention of the king.
“You either accept the enlightenment and remain within the tradition of its rationalism or else you criticize the Enlightenment and then try to escape from its principles of rationality” In my personal opinion both of these essays and their authors have their strong points, I personally believe that I side more with Kants views in his essay about freedom and autonomy. People should be able to stand up for themselves and have a strong presence in politics, government, and religion. Our country should not be run behind the peoples backs, we should be able to have a voice in any political matters that could possibly pertain or effect society as a whole. Human beings need to be able to effectively make change in society.
The German philosopher Immanuel Kant is considered to be a central figure of contemporary philosophy. Kant argued that fundamental concepts, structure human experience and that reason is the foundation of morality. In Kant’s 1784 essay “What is Enlightenment” he briefly outlined his opinions on what Enlightenment is, the difficulties to enlightenment and how individuals attain enlightenment. Kant defined enlightenment as “Man’s release from his self-incurred tutelage” (Kant 1) and the “Courage to use his own reason.
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