Similarities Between The Enlightenment And Absolutism

The Enlightenment era marked a pivotal time in history when new ideas about human rights, social contracts, and political systems emerged. During this transformative period, influential thinkers like John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and the French National Assembly contributed profound ideas that shaped the understanding of human nature, society, and the social contract. However, the Enlightenment was not a static phenomenon, but a dynamic and evolving discourse that continued to inspire and provoke further reflection. The writings of Locke, Rousseau, and the French National Assembly established the foundation for Enlightenment thought, emphasizing concepts such as natural rights, social contracts, and the pursuit of individual liberty.

In this document, he presented several arguments that drew on Enlightenment principles. One principle was the inherent dignity and equality of all individuals (Cugoano, p. 2). Cugoano appealed to the idea that every person, regardless of their race or status, possesses common rights and privileges (Cugoano, p. 1). He criticized the slave trade for robbing individuals of their liberty and treating them as property, which goes against the principles of justice, equity, reason, and humanity (Cugoano, p. 1). This argument aligns with the Enlightenment emphasis on natural rights and the belief in the fundamental equality of all human beings. In Rousseau's, The Social Contract, he argued that individuals should enter into a social contract voluntarily and that the general will should guide the actions of the state (Rousseau, p. 20). Rousseau emphasized the consent and agreement among individuals as the basis for legitimate government, which is similar to Cugoano’s argument that slavery involved the ensnaring of others and the deprivation of their liberty, making it the worst kind of robbery and contrary to the principles of the divine law (Cugoano, p. 6). In addition to Enlightenment ideas, Cugoano made moral arguments like how wicked and criminal slavery was and how no situation justifies that robbery of others

Firstly, she stated that “woman is born free and remains equal to man in rights,” challenging the prevailing social distinctions that marginalized women (Gouges, Article 1). She emphasized that social distinctions should be based solely on common utility, and that equality should be the guiding principle in society (De Gouges, Article 1). In Article 2, De Gouges also highlighted the importance of political association for the preservation of the natural and imprescriptible rights of both women and men. She believed that the purpose of such association should be the resistance to oppression and the protection of individual liberty, property, and security (De Gouges, Article 2). De Gouges expands upon the principle of national sovereignty in Article 3, as expressed in the text, stating that "The principle of all sovereignty rests essentially in the nation, which is but the reuniting of woman and man. No body and no individual may exercise authority which does not emanate expressly from the nation." This articulation emphasizes the inclusion of women in the concept of national sovereignty and asserts that authority should derive explicitly from the nation as a whole. Furthermore, de Gouges emphasized the principle of national sovereignty, stating that “The principle of all