Concetti Chiave
- The Enlightenment's rationality was critiqued for failing to address societal issues, valuing reason over emotion, and preferring idealized settings over reality.
- The concept of nature shifted from a divine order to a living entity, with beauty seen as subjective and the sublime linked to awe and terror.
- Burke opposed revolutionary change, advocating for gradual reform respecting historical legacy, despite supporting American independence.
- Paine supported the French Revolution, promoting republicanism, abolition of slavery, and women's rights, challenging monarchical systems.
- Godwin critiqued society with faith in human reason, while Wollstonecraft advocated for gender equality and women's emancipation.
Critique of Enlightenment Rationality
The rationalistic outlook of the Enlightenment proved unsatisfactory. Reason seemed unable to correct the evils of society such as the misery and desolation brought by industrialisation. The supremacy of reason as the only path of knowledge led to the repression of emotion. There was a growing interest in everyday life as opposed to the lofty characters provided by Classicism, and in the countryside, seen as an ideal place for meditation. Other works have a melancholic tone, associated with meditations on suffering. A new liking for desolate places such as castles and abbeys was opposed to the sad present reality.
Revolution of the Concept of Nature
There was also a revolution of the concept of nature. The classical view stated that Nature was a set of divine laws and principles that man could order and control with the capacity of reason. Now Nature was seen as a living being to be described as it really was.
Another important revolution concerned the aesthetic sense: Hume denied the objectivity of experience stated by Locke: he maintained that Beauty exists in the mind which contemplates objects, so the concept of Beauty changes depending on each subject.
Sublime was neither linked to the creation of beautiful forms, nor to the contemplation of objects, but had its roots in the fear and horror caused by the infinite and the terrifying.
Social Critique of Burke and Paine
About social criticism
I’ll describe what some important authors thought about the consequences of the revolution.
• BURKE: though he supported the independence of America, he represented a voice of protest, always controversial. 
He did not approve of revolution as a mean of reform. He maintained that institutions could be reformed only after a process of evolution, always respecting the heritage and the greatness of past sources.
• PAINE: he replied to Burke’s aversion to revolutions. Supporting the French Revolution, he advocated republicanism, the abolition of slavery and the emancipation of the women. He was impressed by Newton’s physical laws which he viewed as a harmony. He criticised the monarchical rule.
• GODWIN: he provided a criticism of existing society, which he viewed as a system of social ethics. He shared an optimism rooted in the confidence in the power of human reason.
• Mary WOLLSTONECRAFT, Godwin’s wife, was in contrast with the radical intellectuals of the time. She struggled on the side of women and claimed their freedom, and she wanted women and men to be considered equal.
Domande da interrogazione
- What were the main criticisms of Enlightenment rationality?
- How did the concept of nature evolve during this period?
- What was the significance of the concept of the Sublime?
- How did Burke and Paine differ in their views on revolution?
The Enlightenment's rationalistic outlook was criticized for its inability to address societal evils like industrialization's misery. It prioritized reason over emotion, leading to a repression of feelings and a preference for everyday life and nature over classical ideals.
The classical view of nature as a set of divine laws was replaced by the idea of nature as a living being. This shift also affected aesthetics, with Hume arguing that beauty is subjective, existing in the mind of the observer.
The Sublime was redefined as rooted in fear and horror, rather than beauty or object contemplation. It emphasized the emotional response to the infinite and terrifying, marking a departure from traditional aesthetic values.
Burke opposed revolution as a means of reform, advocating for evolutionary change respecting historical heritage. In contrast, Paine supported the French Revolution, promoting republicanism, abolition of slavery, and women's emancipation, viewing Newton's laws as harmonious.
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