The Enlightenment Movement: Contrasting Interpretations of Historians

This essay provides an overview of the Enlightenment movement, a significant philosophical and cultural shift originating in England. It examines the interpretations of two prominent historians, Peter Gay and Roy Porter. Gay views the Enlightenment as a catalyst for political modernization and the establishment of democratic societies, emphasizing the movement's role in promoting freedom and secularism. He contrasts Christianity with the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason. Porter, on the other hand, sees the Enlightenment as the beginning of modern changes, highlighting its role in fostering innovative ideas and mental liberation. The essay contrasts their views on the movement's impact, including the role of the French Revolution, and provides a comparative analysis of their perspectives on the Enlightenment's influence on society and politics. The essay references key texts by both historians to support its arguments.

THE
ENLIGHTENMENT
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THE ENLIGHTENMENT
The Enlightenment movement was originated in England and it was a philosophical ,
cultural and social movement which supported in bringing changes in the society in an positive
manner (The Enlightenment and Religion, 2016). many authors have given interpretation of the
movement and it aids in understanding various aspects related to it. This movement was
originated after the scientific revolution which aided in bringing technological and production
related changes in the society. Many renown authors have given their reviews and interpretation
over The enlightenment movement and Peter Gay is one such author. He was an American
educationist and has received many scholarly distinctions. He had received National Book
Award in History and Biography for first volume of The Enlightenment. According to Gay this
movement brought various changes in the society and political modernization occurred in
country after starting of this movement. People received more freedom and authorities and
democratic state was established due to positive changes occurred due to this movement. He has
summed up this movement as foundation for building a democratic society (Gay 2013). He has
identified Christianity as a mythical approach which creates confusions and dilemmas in the
society.
A detailed and proper exploration has been done about the philosophers that were
involved in The Enlightenment movement. His approach towards philosophers is persuasive he
described them as father of modernity. He represented the movement as single direction which
led towards bringing political changes. As per him hierarchy was demolished and end of old
regime occurred in the state. Gay has given emphasis on political environment of the nation
which causes lack of radicalism in the society. He include many philosophers in his book and
Voltaire were among them. The Enlightenment movement brought cosmopolitanism, humanity,
secularism and liberal politics in the country as per the views of Peter Gay. On the other hand
Roy Porter is another author who has given some meaningful interpretations on The
Enlightenment movement. He was a known historian and is recognized for significant work
done in the fields of medicines. He worked at University College London in the medicine
department. He was specialized in the Britain's social history and has written many valuable
books on history of the nation. Roy Porter has described the movement as initiation of bringing
modern changes in the society (Porter and McCall 2015, 198-200.). According to him era of
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mental liberation was started after this movement and innovative and progressive ideas came out
from community people which supported in developing a liberal and democratic society. Initially
the nations was suppressed by Victorians and they used to work like a mechanical thinker.
According to Peter Gay the exponents of the movement were not rationalists and he considered
them as persuasive. Gay mentioned that end of Voltaire was a significant initiative which
brought positive political changes and democratic state was established after the movement. On
the other hand Roy Porter described that French revolution has caused downfall in The
Enlightenment movement. Roy Porter described The Enlightenment movement as change
initiated by people for making a republican state in the nation.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Gay, Peter. The party of humanity. Knopf, 2013.
Porter, Roy, and Bradford McCall. "The Cambridge History of Science: Vol. 4. Eighteenth-
Century Science." Aestimatio: Critical Reviews in the History of Science 4 (2015): 198-200.
Online
The Enlightenment and Religion. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<https://books.google.co.in/books?
id=XS7YCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT78&lpg=PT78&dq=summary+of+THe+enlightenment+as+p
er+Peter+GAY.&source=bl&ots=P1AyIUty1-&sig=nl5ad5Rd-WMYxlc--
sp1AhohIac&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjj7M79lNDPAhWHwI8KHenZBbUQ6AEISzA
H#v=onepage&q=summary%20of%20THe%20enlightenment%20as%20per%20Peter
%20GAY.&f=false>. [Accessed on 10th October 2016].
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