Select One Reading From Each List Below And In A Two To Thre

Select One Reading From Each List Below Andin Atwo To Three Paragrap

Select one reading from each list below, and—in a two to three paragraph response —compare and contrast the way that they present the basic ideas of the Enlightenment: Social Awareness, Individual Liberty and Accountability, and the role of Reason versus Emotions. LIST 1 LIST 2 Tartuffe Gulliver's Travels Candide Oroonoko or The Royal Slave Discourse on Method The Social Contract A Vindication of the Rights of Women Consider the following in your discussion: Use of satire Form and approach of the work (i.e. narrative fiction, drama, essay) Position of oppression (i.e., slavery, rights of women)

Paper For Above instruction

The Enlightenment period was characterized by an emphasis on reason, social awareness, and individual liberty, often expressed through various literary and philosophical works that critiqued societal norms and explored human rights. In this comparison, I will examine Voltaire’s "Candide" and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s "The Social Contract" to understand their presentation of Enlightenment ideals through satire, narrative form, and perspectives on oppression.

Voltaire's "Candide" employs satire within a narrative fiction framework to critique societal institutions, religious dogma, and philosophical optimism. Candide’s adventures expose the cruelty and absurdity of social injustice, including war and inequality, emphasizing reason as a tool to critique superstitions and blind faith. Voltaire’s approach is sarcastic and humorous, using satire to challenge traditional authority and promote individual liberty—highlighting the importance of rational thought in fostering social progress. Conversely, Rousseau’s "The Social Contract" is an essay that advocates for political and social arrangements founded on reason and collective will. Rousseau emphasizes individual liberty within the context of social responsibility, arguing that true freedom is found in participation in democratic processes that uphold justice and equality. Unlike Voltaire’s satirical tone, Rousseau’s work is more ideological, aiming to inspire social awareness and reform through rational principles that underpin legitimate authority.

Both works address oppression but from different angles—Voltaire’s "Candide" critiques religious and political oppression through satire, revealing the suffering caused by dogma and tyranny. Rousseau’s "The Social Contract," however, advocates for a social framework that protects individual liberty and minimizes oppression by aligning the general will with justice. While Voltaire underscores the role of reason in undermining oppressive institutions, Rousseau emphasizes collective reason and moral responsibility in building a just society. Together, these texts highlight the Enlightenment’s focus on reason as a means of achieving social awareness and individual accountability, with a nuanced understanding of how emotions and satire can serve as potent tools in challenging oppression and advocating for human rights.

References

• Voltaire. (1759). Candide. [Translated edition].
• Rousseau, J.-J. (1762). The Social Contract. [Translated edition].
• Gay, P. (1966). The Enlightenment: An interpretation. W. W. Norton & Company.
• Israel, J. I. (2001). The Radical Enlightenment. Oxford University Press.
• Kant, I. (1784). An Answer to the Question: What Is Enlightenment?
• Porter, R. (2001). Enlightenment. Palgrave Macmillan.
• Outram, D. (2013). The Enlightenment. Cambridge University Press.
• Skinner, Q. (2002). The Return of Grand Narrative.
• Berlin, I. (1990). Four Essays on Liberty. Oxford University Press.
• Marshall, P. (2010). Demanding the Impossible: A History of Anarchism. HarperCollins.