Topic > Analysis of the Age of Enlightenment and Modernity

The progress of society over time has occurred in advancing stages of social change. The lifestyle of human beings has developed throughout history in their way of thinking about much of everyday life. For many years, lower socioeconomic groups have struggled with poverty, control, and isolation from possible resources that offered an escape from their lives. of torment and fatigue. A government-based centralized religion, absolute monarchies, limited or no access to effective education, and social controls on certain genders or groups of people, produced a society in which people lived in a perceived permanent underclass. The historical eras of Enlightenment and Modernity brought about progress and changes in the fields of politics, religion, education and social life, which opened the door to a better lifestyle for the lower socioeconomic groups of society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The period of the Enlightenment, known as “The Age of Reason,” sought to introduce rational, scientific thinking and promote personal freedom in life. Born out of the European humanism movement, the Enlightenment developed ideas based on reason and highlighted by the senses. He strove to promote ideas of personal liberty, religious tolerance, constitutionally based government, and the belief in the separation of church and state. European societies sought to escape the absolute control and dominance of both monarchies politically and the Catholic Church in spiritual life. Rational thinking and scientific knowledge led to the growth of machine-based manufacturing in the industrial revolution and the improvement of daily life. Focusing on the rights of all individuals has led to an equal pursuit of happiness, longer life expectancy, and better living conditions for many of those involved. The Age of Enlightenment forever changed the life of the ordinary working individual. The Age of Enlightenment called for a time of change in social, political, educational, and scientific thinking through the roles of important figures who became agents of change. Socially, this time period developed the idea of ​​personal equality. Revolutionary figures like Mary Wollstonecraft opened new doors for women in the functioning of society. Mary believed that the way to create new life opportunities came from growth through education. Growing up in a dysfunctional home environment with an alcoholic father, Mary saw the problems that came with it and took on a key role with her younger siblings. Upon reaching adulthood, Mary took the opportunity to enter the workforce in jobs that were permitted to women at the time, such as teaching. She didn't underestimate the importance of raising children, but she just wanted all opportunities to be open to women in today's society. Furthermore, political thought evolved during the Enlightenment through revolutionary men like Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson supported a new ideal of democracy, centered on the rights of the individual. He believed in being tolerant of religion and not being controlled by a state-supported mode of faith and worship. Educationally, Jefferson advocated attending a traditional school. Following his political views on equality, Jefferson believed that education should not be based on socioeconomic status. All children deserved access to new discoveries that he believed could change them as people andopen new doors for their lives and future outcomes. Scientifically, Jefferson supported the idea of ​​rationality, which supported religious beliefs with science instead of putting them in conflict with each other. Unfortunately, Jefferson did not advocate for an improved status of opportunity for women. Another revolutionary in education and equality who spearheaded change during this time was Johann Pestalozzi. Pestalozzi promoted the need for those living in low socioeconomic conditions to learn trades that could provide an escape from the travesties of the life of poverty. He saw education as the gateway to this escape. In agreement with Jefferson, Pestalozzi believed that all children deserved to be educated, regardless of social or economic status. Pestalozzi saw the need to change the school structure from rote memorization in religious studies to a concentration on reading, literature, and the study of mathematics. . These revolutionary figures lit the flame of change during the Age of Enlightenment that forever changed the face of society. The rise of Modernity developed the role of the individual in an increasingly industrialized society that moved towards growing cities and urban areas. Society developed a more secular point of view as the role of religion greatly diminished. Citizens' values ​​during Modernity have become more individualized and materialistic. Modern society gave political life to the idea of ​​the nation-state. The capitalist economy has grown in prevalence, with a large concentration on private ownership and the commercialization of everything for profit. From an educational perspective, Modern society tried to decide what was needed to learn to thrive in the economy and growing industrialization. A concentration on literature and mathematics in the classroom sought to produce critically thinking individuals. Furthermore, the rational thinking promoted during Modernity created production processes that created better jobs for higher wages that produced capital to spend in the new economy. Finally, the focus on scientific methods during Modernity created technological advances such as the telegraph, new types of microscopes, and ultimately, a horrific method of destroying large cities with a bomb. The influence of key figures in the Modernity time period created a change in the fields of education, religion, social conditions and political thought. Robert Owen sought change for the difficult social situation of common workers during this time period. He saw the opportunity for the betterment of these citizens through the field of education. Owen believed that education for the upper classes and poor people would produce the growth of morality and the need to show kindness to one another. Additionally, Owen was an advocate for improving the role of women in society. He fought for a return to the arts in education beyond literary and mathematical learning. Politically, Owen believed in property that was publicly owned and guided socialistically for the good of the whole. He owned his own business which employed many workers. The negative behaviors and living conditions of these workers led Owen to believe that improving their living situation would improve society as a whole. John Stuart Mill agreed with Owen in some areas and disagreed in others. Mill believed in the rights of the individual in stark contrast to the socialist ideas previously described by Owen. He supported the rights of the common man, even while feeling disgusted towardsthe treatment of commoners by the upper class aristocracy. Mill believed that education was the greatest power for change in their societies. He was a supporter of women's rights and sought to include the arts back into educational life. Another education advocate of the time was Horace Mann, known as the father of public education. Mann advocated civic education of individuals to create productive citizens. Furthermore, it supported the training of teachers to lead the day's classes. These revolutionary thinkers led to dynamic developments during the era of Modernity. The progression of time through the eras of the Enlightenment and Modernity saw a greater focus on the life and mobility of the common worker. First, both eras valued the rights of individuals, moving away from the old system of absolute monarchy. JeffersonThe revolutionary ideals of democracy and the capitalist free market of Modernity produced a more equal playing field for the most socioeconomically disadvantaged workers. Educationally, both eras developed the learning system to provide upward mobility for common class workers and women. Both time periods saw education as a way of social change and a provider of opportunity. Rousseau developed a student-centered educational philosophy that is now policy and procedure in schools today. Furthermore, both movements created new and better work situations for the common worker, while enabling the opportunities seen in the Modernity era for better-paying jobs with predictable hours that improved one's lifestyle. The two eras had different beliefs about the idea of ​​the role of religion in society. The Enlightenment sought a separation of church and state to prevent a domineering church like the Catholic Church. Thomas Jefferson tried to rationalize scientific thinking and nature with faith. However, in Modernity the role of the Church in society has been significantly reduced. Modernity has sought more pleasures in life and less focus on seeking redemption for the flaws in one's life. During the Enlightenment and Modernity, the life and destiny of the common worker improved through philosophical thought and practice. The Age of Enlightenment highlights some characteristics that follow parts of the biblical worldview, while Modernity mostly distances itself from biblical thinking. First of all, the Enlightenment promoted the improvement of the life and freedom of every human being, regardless of his or her socioeconomic condition. Stonestreet emphasizes in his worldview video that humans are precious in the image of God. Furthermore, the Enlightenment sought to rationalize science with God and not put it at odds. William Edgar said in his worldview video: “science is neutral.” The Enlightenment sought to ensure tolerance of religion, following the advice of Edgar who stated: "go to the root of the unbelievers and walk with them." The era of Modernity has drastically reduced the importance of society in everyday life. Individualism and self-importance took precedence over following the faith. A biblical worldview invites you to love God or love yourself. This focus on personal gain and self-gratification is at odds with the understanding that true happiness in life comes only from the presence of Christ, not from the acquisition of material pleasure. As Stonestreet pointed out in his video, there is something wrong with the world and the answer lies in the human heart. Sin has created pain and anguish in life and the,.