The enlightenment era consisted of quite a number of ideas that changed the French society in addition to growing wave of civilization in the West. This period was characterized by reason during which individuals started to think on their own behalf and were also less dependent in addition to living and working based on set standards and directions. As a result, civilization in the western world started to change socio-political ideologies and values in addition to thinking independently (Sherman & Salisbury 515).
The enlightenment period influenced the French values and ideas in myriad of ways. For instance, political enlightenment ideas made French citizens to overthrown Louis XVI monarch in addition to a government that was representative in nature (Sherman & Salisbury 517).
Moreover, the enlightenment led to popularizing the importance of public debate. This fact enabled individuals to be in position to come up with ideas and discuss the same regarding the government of the day. Consequently, people were in a position to air their views freely and thus in one way or the other influenced the French revolution.
In addition, various writings of French philosophers led to several social developments that resulted into French revolution. For example, the writings of Jean Jacques Rousseau impacted on philosophical “values and ideas that led to the revolution” (Sherman & Salisbury 519).
Rousseau’s idea that men should break away from laws and borders of societal constraints in addition to going back to simple lifestyles in which nature presented to them impacted on the values and ideologies behind revolution. According to Rousseau, man is neither bad nor good compared to other animals due to the fact that he was there prior to revolution. Thus, the writings of Rousseau influenced elements such as architecture, philosophy, values, ideas and tastes during French revolution.
Moreover, certain ideas of Montesquieu, Locke and Voltaire also impacted on the ideas and values of the French revolution. As a matter of fact, Voltaire criticized some of the privileges that were accorded to the noble members of society. On the other hand, Locke and Montesquieu were for perspectives of sovereignty and importance of private property (Sherman & Salisbury (520).
Sherman and Salisbury (519), further underpin that the philosophy of Rousseau made him to write a book on “the social contract” and this work outlines the importance of putting in place a political order that is legitimate in nature. This changed the ideologies and values of the French revolution. Sherman and Salisbury (530) further added that Rousseau pointed out that nature state was a condition that was too primitive and it lacked either morality or law, hence human beings had to embrace the importance of cooperation.
Hence, there was growing need to exercise division of labor as well as designate value to privately owned property as society experienced further growth in terms of socio-economic and political civilization. According to enlightenment ideas, even though human race is dependent in nature, there was still need to “compete with them” (Sherman &Salisbury 530).
Hence, Rousseau pointed out that if human beings can abandon the natural right claims and embracing the social contract, human beings will be in position not only to preserve themselves but also to remain free Sherman and Salisbury (533).
As a result of the aforementioned ideas of the Rousseau, it can be argued that the ideas and values of French revolution were as a result of enlightenment ideas that did not comprise elements of French institutions such as the church doctrine, aristocracy, monarch and feudalism among others (Sherman and Salisbury 533-534). These institutions influenced the revolution since prior to the enlightenment period, individuals had the power to rule people without applying either reason or logic to the best interest of the masses.
The enlightenment further indicated that every citizen had the right to power and respect and these enlightenment principles further impacted on the French revolution ideas and principles. For instance, the established national assembly was based on these principles and it had an aim of representing rights of the people in addition to restoring the nation of France to the people (Sherman & Salisbury (539).
The French revolution transformed political atmosphere in the 18th century. For instance, according to Sherman and Salisbury (540), French revolution resulted into consternation politics that further led into transformation of the existing political culture on ancient regimes. For instance, the revolutionist broke away from the past as a result of competition between the absolute monarch critics and the agents.
As a result of the revolution, individuals came out in open to criticize wanton corruption that was overly prevalent in the monarchy. Furthermore, as a result of French revolution, sovereign state systems came into being as documented by Sherman and Salisbury (541).
Finally, the revolution created a new course of political and socio-economic revolution during 18th century as a result of the enlightenment ideas which resulted into elements such as liberty, equality, improvement in the applied intellectual in the field in politics. These aspects gave politics a new face after the 18th century period.
Work Cited
Sherman, Dennis & Salisbury, Joyce E. The West in the World: From 1600. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001.