The Main Ideas of Enlightenment Philosophers Essay Sample

David Imhoof’s examination of the Enlightenment and its thinkers has influenced the historical changes that came with the era of revolutions. The ruler Sarastro represents the light Enlightenment, whereas Princess Pamina represents the dark enlightenment. Light Enlightenment is described as being open to justification and change. It does not, however, replace the cons it possesses. Dark Enlightenment refers to the use of action based on potent emotions demanding control and loyalty. From the French Revolution of 1789 to nationalism and through 19th-century industrialization, the juxtaposition of light and dark in Enlightenment thought, better influenced historical changes.

The concept of right was established after the wrong, just like how the Enlightenment needed darkness to define the light. The French Revolution began when hundreds of aggrieved subjects attacked the Bastille, a state prison on the eastern side of Paris, which represented the dictatorial rule of the monarchy. The story-turning event for this period was the first to depict darkness as an oppressive monarchy that blinded and oppressed its subjects. French citizens harbored resentment towards the king because of the absolute monarchy of Louis XVI and the church order of how life should be lived. While the wealthy First and Second Estates were exempt from taxation, the royal family taxed the Third Estate creating a powder keg in France, which was the main cause of resentment towards the royal family (page 60). During Louis XVI's reign, the French were influenced by the Age of Enlightenment and the economic crisis that the country was facing. This led them to protest and march for their right to freedom and equality. Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Baron de Montesquieu questioned the darkness that already existed as an absolute monarchy. In France, revolutionaries and ordinary citizens questioned authority and the government's role in helping the citizens. By ending the French monarchy, feudalism and taking back the political power from the Catholic church, the revolution changed the lives of everyday citizens. The dark enhanced the luminescence of the light in this way.

As we see with Sarastro, the king of light, even the "good" who represents light is flawed. In Mozart's opera The Magic Flute, Sarastro represents wisdom, justice, and truth. Yet he favors Tamino's desire to win Pamina while disapproving of Monostatos's desire because he is poor and unattractive. In history, Sarastro refers to Napoleon Bonaparte, a French general, emperor, and military leader who conquered much of Europe. As a rationalist, Napoleon Bonaparte exercised his enormous authority to encourage Enlightenment ideals into laws, thus benefiting France. The Code Napoleon in 1807 emphasizes essential ideas of revolution and the Enlightenment. Pamina married Taminos because her rights in the matter were denied. The Code didn't benefit the women since they had no rights regarding property rights, divorce, or public representation. Since Napoleon wanted to demonstrate the power of France, he kept Europe at war for 15 years, killing millions. Europe kindled the spirit of nationalism, resulting in the unification of the German states in Germany and the Italian states in Italy. Nationalism in both countries arose because of Napoleon. Since the French Revolution transformed subjects into citizens, nationalism challenged political status as nation-states assumed the existence of the "imagined community" of a nation and the actual authority of the state. Additionally, nationalism challenges conservatives as a progressive force. Nationalism benefited Europe. Napoleon and his boys contributed to the creation of German nationalism in a sense (page 72). Nationalists, like Napoleon, wanted to show the world, with force, the superiority of their country. Napoleon can be viewed as a savior or destroyer of Europe as he helped Europe become influential and powerful. However, his stubbornness led to many deaths, and he enforced conformity. Throughout his lifetime, he represented both light and darkness, which led to many historical changes.

The Enlightenment could be used to control people equally as to liberate them. Many positive things resulted from the Industrial Revolution, including the increase in wealth, the production of goods, and the improvement of living standards. As we will see in Mozart's Play, Taminos is a privileged upper class while Monostatos is a poor slave. Thus, Taminos had more chances of marrying Pamina with Sarastro’s approval. Similarly, Enlightenment philosophers aimed their liberating ideas at wealthy white men who could benefit from it rather than the laboring class. Industrialization allowed the wealthier to own factories. While the poor struggled every day to make a living for their families. Karl Marx, who used enlightenment ideologies, “insisted that the thesis and the antithesis were always about who had the money, or who controlled the means of production” (page 105) which constitute the basis of capitalism. In industrialization, the most powerful were the ones with the most laborers and production. The ideas of Marx significantly influenced people after the Industrial Revolution, when industrial capitalism had advanced to an advanced level. In his lifetime, many working men were inspired by Marx's ideas. They engender a sense of hope that they would one day overthrow the existing system which was accomplished when they became skilled. Those aforesaid unskilled workers eventually became skilled at many things. In cases where factory owners needed special skills, the workers could negotiate better pay, working hours, and safety. Thus, The Industrial Revolution increased employment opportunities and better lifestyles for ordinary people.

Enlightenment writers considered light to symbolize reason, progress, and tolerance. As they considered what darkness symbolized, they struggled even more. However, with many historical changes, they came to understand what darkness was. The darkness characterized emotional turmoil, absolute monarchy, inequality, blind belief, and loyalty. One historical change led to many others. From the Enlightenment to the Renaissance, followed the French Revolution, nationalism, and the Industrial Revolution. Enlightenment ideals which formed the concept of light and dark were the primary motivators behind these changes. It gave birth to the ideas of individual equality and freedom, democracy in government, and nationalism, and ended mercantilism. It was replaced by a more transparent and competitive economic system, which led to the industrial revolution.