2022/06/20 by Lawrence Jayatilaka
#Enlightenment #French revolution #formative events. #history
paper · doi:10.5526/esj127
The French Revolution, one of the formative events of the modern world, has been variously interpreted as either epitomising or betraying the ideals of the Enlightenment. The fall of the Ancien Régime and the subsequent period of turmoil are usually linked to the philosophies of a group of Enlightenment thinkers which include Rousseau, Hobbes and Locke among their varied ranks, as well as many lesser-known theorists. This paper attempts to assess the influence the ideas these philosophers put forward had upon the events and personae of the Revolution, while stressing the difficulty inherent in conceiving of the Enlightenment as a cohesive whole. Some historical background is offered to provide an idea of the causes of the Revolution, as well as drawing our attention to the parallels with our own times. That the Revolution was preceded by a financial crisis is seen as particularly relevant. The events of the Revolution are discussed in relation to the ideas that are considered to have been among the primary motivators for these actions, and there is brief reference to some of the prominent personalities within the Revolutionary movement.