Enlighten the United States How about living a life where you cannot be discriminated by your age, sex, race and color. Live a life that is full of peace and happiness. A life where use your intellect and reasoning are first comers in life. Live a life where individualism and self-improvement are key roles. There was a core period of time when people could express their individualism, religious tolerance and self-opinionated opinions. But on top of this period, there was scientific logic and reasoning behind it. No! This is not heaven but it was a time in place known as the Enlightenment. The core period of the Enlightenment was second half of the eighteenth century. It was an age characterized by a restless spirit of inquiry"ÃÂa century of challenge. A new life was awake and stirred in the mind of men. Tradition, which had been long venerated, became the objects of searching investigation and criticism.
Benjamin Franklin 1767
This (attributed to ) originally appeared during t...
Diogenes helps Marat escaping from his underground...The authority of the church of the state and of the school was no longer regarded as the court of last appeal .The old beliefs, which failed to justify themselves at the bar of reason were discarded. The foundations of time-honored systems seemed shifting and uncertain. There was an insistent demand for the free play of the individual judgment. There was, also, a constant reference to the light of reason, the inner illumination shining, bright and clear in contrast to the shadows of mysticism, or to the false and flickering light of dogmatism. Hence the name of the age of illumination, or enlightenment,--the name, also, of the age of reason. In a society where individual are seeking self-individualism and self-improvement, Today society would most benefit from the Enlightenment period in which there tradition would show more self-actualization and religious tolerance where individualism is maximizing day by day.
Over the past few years the topic of discrimination has been in the spotlight. People committing religious crime as burning down other people churches and holy grounds or even setting burning crosses on the other people's property to symbolizing the death of Jesus. Pursuing Enlightenment philosophy would give religious tolerance and more respect all cultures and religion. For example, In The Age of Reason, Paine states, "I do not mean by this declaration to condemn those who believe otherwise; they have the same right to their belief as I have to mine"ÃÂ (897). Paine is emplacing that although he does not mock in any particular religion, each individual has his or her right to freedom of religion. Look at the Islamic religion, if you do not fast or pray five times a day you will be sinned and believed to have devil like qualities. A person should not critique a person's culture or belief as long as they believe in something. Religions are sending a statement that if one does not believe and do what that particular religion says, he or she will be sinned. Discrimination today varies from religion background and color to sex. This philosophy would ease society by showing the concept of tolerance. Discrimination is the majority of the problems facing the United States on a daily basis. White on black or black on white crimes have given new meaning to hate crimes (color). Is it right for a person to kill another a person for his/her color? In today's society discrimination is a virtue that should be ridiculed, and be seen as the Enlighteners did in the late Eighteenth Century.
Moreover, the Enlightenment philosophy pertained the idea of pure scientific logic and reason. With the Christianity religion being so mythically inclined and ridiculous, the Christian's belief are based on myth. How many times has the bible been written by apostles? How can you say that Jesus is Son of God? Do Christians doubt for one minute that a talking snake and eating a fruit caused all men to be born with original sin? There is no logic or reason behind these falsified myths other then to scarce Christians into being good. Paine states, "Not anything can be studied as a science without our being in possession of the principles upon which it is found; and as this is not the case with Christians theology, it is therefore the studying of nothing; it is founded on nothing: it rests on no principles; it proceed by no authorities"ÃÂ (902). Paine emphasizes the concept of how ridiculous these myths are and how there is no virtual truth of any of them, so how could anyone possibly base their belief on them? So how can science and logic benefit the United States with Enlightenment thinking? We have all heard the famous story about Benjamin Franklin flying a kite in the rain and it getting hit by lightning. Science provides much easier reason for the fulfillment of life. There is strong evidence to support that we human being are not the only ones living species here on this universe. Science and logic have given us examples that they are exterestereal beings out there. With sightings and scientific evidence of dead bodies it shows us that science answer questions that religion cannot.
Breaking through, the Enlightenment philosophy promoted individualism. Today's society we see many religious cults or people trying to individualize themselves. They want a sense of belonging which the church and state cannot please. Personal faith and beliefs destroyed mythic beliefs of religion. "My mind is my own church,"ÃÂ Paine explained in The Age of Reason (897). Paine did not go to church his mind was his religious temple of work ship and faith. Paine emphasized think for yourself, every human has a brain, utilize it. This can be linked directly to pure scientific logic and reasoning. Paine also emphasized, "The Creation speaketh an universal language, independently of human speech or human language, multiplied and various as they be "(896). Paine emphasizes individualism through this quote as well. Paine promotes it does not matter what, race, religion you are. At the end of life, if you are a good person, you will live a happy and prosperous afterlife.
In addition, the Enlightenment philosophy encourages society to transform it ethics, values and standards. This philosophy stresses self-improvement. Benjamin Franklin's effort to mastermind moral perfection by achieving all virtues important to him is an authentic illustration. Franklins uses sincerity, justice, moderation, and tranquility to show how society would be benefit society and help standard of living. In a society where everyone is trying to improve themselves either mentally or physically, Franklin emphasizes in his Autobiography, "My intention being to acquire the Habitude of all these Virtues, I judg'd it would be will not to distract my Attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time, and when I should be Master of that, then to proceed to an another, and son till I should have gone thro' the thirteen"ÃÂ 814. Franklin is emphasizing how himself can make him self-better and self-improved. If the United States takes Enlightenment philosophy and applies like Franklin has. We would have people with a given right of system and morals. Our crime rate would be shaggily low and sufficient.
In conclusion, embracing Enlightenment philosophy would benefit the United States. We could live a life with peace and happiness; a world where each individual would try to become more civilizes as time goes on. Our crime rate would go down, and even if people do killed, they would improve themselves with notion of Benjamin Franklin thirteen golden virtues. The Enlightenment was a period of time when logic and science came through with the soul. Today society would benefit a lot from the Enlightenment philosophy where today crimes rates are rising higher as days go on.
United States
United States
Louis XVI's Head: The german, counter-revolutiona...