First edition, October 10th 2017
ASSANGE PUBLISHING The Ecuadorian Embassy in London, England © Copyright, 2017 by Princeton University Press All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions Manufactured in Seongju Province of South Korea
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Table of contents 1. Forward on the enlightenment
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2. Biography of the philosophers in the enlightenment 4-8 3. Advice column 9-12
4. The glossary 13-14
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Forward of the Enlightenment:
The Enlightenment, otherwise known as the Age of Reason, marked the
beginning of a philosophical revolution which would forever change the views of society on the values of life. This was a time in which the great minds of civilization began to contemplate the idea that one could learn more about reality and the true happenings of Earth through mere observation. During this age of realization, a number of political and personal beliefs and values present in American society today were formulated. These ideas included that of the democracy which has proceeded to cultivate our nation since its establishment. As told by great philosopher Montesquieu, “To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.” It was like ideas of equality and expression which proceeded to shape modern rights and liberties. Additionally, the first thoughts of a women’s rights movement began to surge. Mary Wollstonecraft, the first advocate for this movement, wrote, “One cause of this barren blooming I attribute to a false system of education, gathered from the books written on this subject by men who, considering females rather as women than human creatures”. By this, Mary illustrated the fact that men objectified women as purely loving wives and mothers, an expectation which would be shattered in the decades to follow. The Enlightenment was a crucial period in the development of American and global society. The ideas, beliefs and values expressed and formed during this time
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continue to prove relevant in modern times and must be preserved in the interest of a prosperous and lucrative nation for years to come.
Philosophers of the Enlightenment : Barón de Montesquieu: Barón de Montesquieu was born in January 18, 1689 in La Brède, France and died on February 10, 1755 in Paris, France. Montesquieu was raised by his father, Jacques de Secondat, and belonged to an old military family of modest wealth which had been ennobled in the 16th century for services to the crown. His mother, Marie-Françoise de Pesnel, was a saintly lady of limited English extraction. When it comes to his political ideas, his main belief was that the government should be split into three parts which checks on power. This would reduce the likelihood of a single portion of the government becoming too powerful. He called this idea “The Separation of Powers” and was dubbed “The Balanced Democrat”. “To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.”
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Mary Wollstonecraft: Mary Wollstonecraft was born on April 27, 1759 and died on September 10, 1797. Wollstonecraft was a philosopher who lived in London and advocated for women’s rights. As a young child she grew up in a household with 6 other siblings, her being the second eldest. Her father was a alcoholic who squandered their families money resulting in an unstable childhood with plenty of moves. Not only was her father an alcoholic, but he also became abusive towards her mother which forced Mary to help protect her. Mary’s childhood gave her a perspective of what some women face everyday which affected her later life. Mary became very passionate about women's rights, and she went on to write about her thoughts and began to speak out about how men and women should be treated equally. She supported equal education and denounced the idea that a woman’s sole purpose in life was to be a loving wife and mother. This advocacy started the first feminist movement. “Virtue can only flourish among equals.”
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Voltaire Voltaire was born on November 1, 1963 in Paris, France and passed away on May 30, 1778 in the same place. Though his mother passed away when he was only seven years old, Voltaire had a comfortable middle class upbringing. However, the actions of enlightenment writer such as argueing with a noble cause him to spend the majority of his life in exile. Regardless, Voltaire managed to create over 2,000 books and pamphlets over the course of his lifetime. This work included his criticism of the policies of censorship and religious intolerance in the French government which was titled Letters Concerning the English Nation. Voltaire believed in complete freedom of expression which included that of speech and religion and encouraged a separation between the church and state. “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.”
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Cesare Beccaria
Cesare Beccaria was born on March 15 ,1738 and died on November 28 ,1794. Beccaria was born in Milan and was educated in his early life. He graduated from the University of Pavia in 1758 after studying law. Cesare later redirected his focus after learning from Montesquieu to economics. Most of his beliefs are shared in his most famous influential essay titled “On Crimes and Punishments” in this, he expressed how he would like to change the legal system to improve criminal justice. He believed in free will, rational manner, and manipulability.By sharing his views he influenced the United states and made a huge impact on our criminal justice system today. “Crimes are more effectually prevented by the certainty than the severity of punishment”.
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Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau was born on June 28, 1712 and died on july 2, 1778. Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer who was born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland. Just 9 days after his birth, Rousseau experienced his first tragedy as his mother Suzanne passed away from puerperal fever. Rousseau and his brother Francois’s childhood was very unstable as they were passed around by different family members after their biological father remarried and disowned him. In his early adulthood, he made his income by becoming a servant, secretary, and tutor. Later he began to study and developed ideas. He believed that man by nature is good and that that people in the state of nature were innocent. He shared ideas by writing books and becoming famous from his work. “ People in their natural state are basically good.But this natural innocence, however, is corrupted by the evils of society”.
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Advice column: The reluctant worker… Dear Rousseau,
I’ve just been fired from my job! Thankfully, I have enough money saved up to tie me over. I’m writing to you because I am unsure what step I should take next. I could look for a new job, but a group of friends have brought up the possibility of backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail for a year. It might be nice to escape from civilization a bit. What should I do? Rousseau’s advice… I understand your concern, but I strongly encourage you to take your friends up on the offer and get away for a bit. The human soul contains a sort of natural morality and goodness. However, society has found a way to corrupt and ruin this as property and individual wealth drives inequality and murder to arise. Give your soul time to cleanse and purify itself in order to come back into contact with the natural goodness which truly lies in its core.
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The ambitious finance... Dear Wollstonecraft,
I’ve found myself in an unpleasant situation and was hoping you might be able to help. I desperately wish to go to college and complete my education. However, my parents have set their minds on a future for me which features getting married, having children, and living life at home. What should I do?
Wollstonecraft’s advice… I imagine how difficult and almost frightening this may seem, but I urge you to forget your parents wishes and take the opportunity to further your education. Society would like you to believe that your only purpose in life is to find a husband and become a loving mother and wife. However, educating the young women of our nation can only expand our minds and fight the blind and ignorant obedience. Go for it!
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Balance of power... Dear Montesquieu, I am the CEO of a large business and am trying to rework the hierarchy of our company. I would like to create a system so that no area is too powerful over the other. What should I do?
Montesquieu’s advice… I’m sorry for whatever occurred that makes you want to change your system in this way. Only war and conflict inspire a need for new rules such as these. Regardless, the best way to even out the power within your company is to create a system of checks and balances which distribute power between different branches of power in the business. This will ensure that neither area is too powerful over the other while still giving different positions of the company a chance to express their thoughts and views on what’s going on. Good luck!
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Siblings at war… Dear Beccaria,
I am the mother of two boys who I found fighting and screaming at each other. I feel the need to punish who ever started the fight, but I wasn’t there to see. Is there a fair way I could figure out the culprit? Beccaria’s advice… Yes, there is a fair and just way to solve this problem. I would suggest giving both boys a fair trial where they may each present their case. Then, you can decide, based on their evidence, who started the fight. However, once you’ve made your decision, you should not change your mind or try either boy again. Remember not to be too harsh or cruel to the boy who is found guilty!
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Freedom of the press… Dear Voltaire,
I am a student journalist and am responsible for helping publish the school’s newspaper every week. However, this week, we’ve put together a great piece which criticizes our principal. We’ve been told that we cannot publish the article or will risk being expelled. What should we do?
Voltaire’s advice… I see only one choice and that is to proceed to publish the article as planned. The censorship present on your campus is immense, and, only when students protest, will there be an increase in freedom of expression you are able to exercise. I too have faced threats of expulsion from various institution, but, without the courage to stand against the wrongs being committed, we cannot expect a change. Speak your mind, and good luck!
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Glossary & Index : Advocated: Publicly recommend or support. Advocacy: Public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy. Arise: (of a problem, opportunity, or situation) emerge; become apparent. Cleanse: Make (something, especially the skin) thoroughly clean. Conflict: A serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one. Corrupt: Having or showing a willingness to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain.
Cruel: Willfully causing pain or suffering to others, or feeling no concern about it. Culprit: A person who is responsible for a crime or other misdeed. Denounced: Publicly declare to be wrong or evil. Distribute: To give or share (something); deal out. Dubbed: Give an unofficial name or nickname to (someone or something). Enlightenment: The action of enlightening or the state of being enlightened. Ennobled: Give (someone) a noble rank or title. Exile: The state of being barred from one's native country, typically for political or punitive reasons.
Expression: The process of making known one's thoughts or feelings. Feminist: a person who supports women’s rights. Guilty: Culpable of or responsible for a specified wrongdoing.
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Hierarchy: A system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority.
Ignorant: Lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated. Inequality: Difference in size, degree, circumstances, etc.; lack of equality. Influential: Having great influence on someone or something. Intolerance: Unwillingness to accept views, beliefs, or behavior that differ from one's own. Liberties: The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views.
Lucrative: Producing a great deal of profit. Manipulability: Capable of or susceptible to being manipulated; manipulatable. Origin of manipulable
Morality: principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.
Obedience: Compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another's authority. Pamphlets: a small booklet or leaflet containing information or arguments about a single subject.
Philosopher: a person engaged or learned in philosophy, especially as an academic discipline. Purify: Remove filth or to clean or to make good. Rational: Based on or in accordance with reason or logic. Regardless: Without paying attention to the present situation; despite the prevailing circumstances.
Squandered: Waste (something, especially money or time) in a reckless and foolish manner.
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