2. Background Info I The Enlightenment was a movement of intellectuals that began in eighteenth century Europe, and with all the religious upheaval of the times had its primary goal as using reason to reform science and advance knowledge. It opposed abusive, intolerant practices that took place in the church and state. Its centre was in France, and was set in motion by philosophers such as Isaac Newton, Pierre Bayle and John Locke. The political ideals behind it had an impact on the formation of the American declaration of Independence. It was where came the birth of democratic values of freedom and reason over monarchyâs divine right; this would later lead to capitalism and religious tolerance. Science and natural philosophy would replace religion as a way of understanding nature, with the majority of people now becoming committed to secular views.
3. Background Info II Public Sphere: an area where individuals can come together to freely discuss social problems, and through that discussion influence political action. Habernas: âbourgeois public sphereâ: everyone is equal, concerns that are common are discussed, and arguments are founded on reason. Reason is valued over all, everything is open to criticism, and there is no secrecy; all areas of politics should be open to the public. The most common place to find a public sphere tended to be coffee houses and cafes. Educated men would spend evenings here with their literary and political associates . They offered journals, books and sometimes popular novels to customers e.g. The Tatler. The first English coffeehouse was in Oxford. Cowan: âthe coffeehouse was a place for like-minded scholars to congregate, to read, as well as learn from and to debate with each other, but was emphatically not a university institution, and the discourse there was of a far different order than any university tutorialâ.
4. Historical Context 50% of males are functionally literate (a dramatic rise) Fenced enclosures of land cause demise of traditional village life Factories begin to spring up as industrial revolution begins Impoverished masses begin to grow as farming life declines and factories build Coffee houses â where educated men spend evenings with literary and political associates http://classiclit.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=classiclit&cdn=education&tm=526&f=20&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.wsu.edu%3A8080/~brians/hum_303/enlightenment.html http://www.literature-study-online.com/essays/ageofreason.html http://www.angelfire.com/journal/LiteratureOfEngland/AgeOfReason.html
5. Content Literature was characterised by a highly increased questioning of religion, a rise in empiricism and reductionism. It explored themes of social upheaval, reversals of personal status, political satire, and the âcomparison between the supposed natural state of man and the supposed civilised state of manâ. Emphasis on reason and logic, stresses harmony, stability, wisdom Locke: a social contract exists between the government and the people. The government governs guaranteeing ânatural rightsâ of life, liberty, and property. Emphasis on the individual, belief that humanity is basically evil, approach to life: âthe world as it should beâ.
8. A Modest Proposal excerpt It is a melancholy object to those, who walk through this great town, or travel in the country, when they see the streets, the roads and cabbin-doors crowded with beggars of the female sex, followed by three, four, or six children, all in rags, and importuning every passenger for an alms. These mothers instead of being able to work for their honest livelihood, are forced to employ all their time in stroling to beg sustenance for their helpless infants who, as they grow up, either turn thieves for want of work, or leave their dear native country, to fight for the Pretender in Spain, or sell themselves to the Barbadoes. I think it is agreed by all parties, that this prodigious number of children in the arms, or on the backs, or at the heels of their mothers, and frequently of their fathers, is in the present deplorable state of the kingdom, a very great additional grievance; and therefore whoever could find out a fair, cheap and easy method of making these children sound and useful members of the common-wealth, would deserve so well of the publick, as to have his statue set up for a preserver of the nation. I have been assured by a very knowing American of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nursed, is, at a year old, a most delicious nourishing and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked, or boiled; and I make no doubt that it will equally serve in a fricasie, or a ragoust.