The Influence of Rationalism on the French Revolution
Ben Jorgensen
Professor Wakefield
English 5
3 April 2013
The Influence of Rationalism on the French Revolution What was the driving force behind the French Revolution? Many people may say it was financial, or political, and while I would agree that these things were part of the force that propelled the French Revolution, I would assert that the philosophies of the Enlightenment were the dominant force that blasted late eighteenth century France into revolution . In his article, “The French Revolution: Ideas and Ideologies “Maurice Cranston of History Today articulates that the Enlightenment philosophies were pivotal in the revolutions inception. He writes that:
“The philosophes undoubtedly provided the ideas.”
Cranston goes on to write that: “…the unfolding of the Revolution, what was thought, what was said, and what was advocated, was expressed in terms and categories that came from political theorists of the Enlightenment.” While many of the Enlightenment concepts contributed to the revolution, I would propose that the philosophy of rationalism was foundational to the French Revolution because of its reliance on reason, and its opposition to superstition. Rationalism in its epistemology is defined by the Online Oxford Dictionary as:
“A belief or theory that opinions and actions should be based on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response.”
The Online Encyclopedia Britannica adds:
“Holding that reality itself has an inherently logical structure, the rationalist asserts that a class of truths exists that the intellect can grasp directly.” There are many types and expressions of rationalism, but the most influential expressions of rationalism pertaining to the French Revolution were in ethics and metaphysics. The first modern rationalist philosopher was Rene Descartes (1596-1650).The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy states that:
“Descartes is known as the father of modern philosophy precisely because he initiated
Professor Wakefield
English 5
3 April 2013
The Influence of Rationalism on the French Revolution What was the driving force behind the French Revolution? Many people may say it was financial, or political, and while I would agree that these things were part of the force that propelled the French Revolution, I would assert that the philosophies of the Enlightenment were the dominant force that blasted late eighteenth century France into revolution . In his article, “The French Revolution: Ideas and Ideologies “Maurice Cranston of History Today articulates that the Enlightenment philosophies were pivotal in the revolutions inception. He writes that:
“The philosophes undoubtedly provided the ideas.”
Cranston goes on to write that: “…the unfolding of the Revolution, what was thought, what was said, and what was advocated, was expressed in terms and categories that came from political theorists of the Enlightenment.” While many of the Enlightenment concepts contributed to the revolution, I would propose that the philosophy of rationalism was foundational to the French Revolution because of its reliance on reason, and its opposition to superstition. Rationalism in its epistemology is defined by the Online Oxford Dictionary as:
“A belief or theory that opinions and actions should be based on reason and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response.”
The Online Encyclopedia Britannica adds:
“Holding that reality itself has an inherently logical structure, the rationalist asserts that a class of truths exists that the intellect can grasp directly.” There are many types and expressions of rationalism, but the most influential expressions of rationalism pertaining to the French Revolution were in ethics and metaphysics. The first modern rationalist philosopher was Rene Descartes (1596-1650).The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy states that:
“Descartes is known as the father of modern philosophy precisely because he initiated
Cited: Cranston, Maurice. "The French Revolution: Ideas and Ideologies." History Today. History Today, 1989. Web. 2 Apr. 2013. Doyle, William. The French Revolution: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: New York, 2001. Print. Kreis, Steven. "Lecture 11: The Origins of the French Revolution." Lecture 11: The Origins of the French Revolution. The History Guide.com, 30 Oct. 2006. Web. 02 Apr. 2013. Lennon, Thomas M., and Shannon Dea. "Continental Rationalism." The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Fall 2012 ed. N.d. Web. "Rationalism Definition." Oxford Dictionaries Online (US). N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2013. "Rationalism". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 02 Apr. 2013