History Optional (Enlightenment) by Shivlal Gupta

Model Answer

Question #1. “...he (Voltaire) was living in the Age of Enlightenment .... The age itself was not enlightened”. - E. Kant. Critically evaluate. 10 marks (150 words)

Approach:

• Introduce Voltaire was living in the Age of Enlightenment.
• Explain the question statement.
• Conclusion.

Hints:

Voltaire was one of the greatest philosophers of 18 century. And 18 century was the age of enlightenment in Europe. During this age, the liberal and progressive ideals such as liberty, equality, constitutionalism, scientific outlook, logic and reason, tolerance, humanism, empiricism, and emphasis on the application of wisdom to human activities were being popularized by philosophers like Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau, and Danis Diderot.

• Voltaire was living in the age of The political, social, religious, and economic system was still based on medieval ideas and practices.
• Absolute monarchy based on the divine rights of the king was prevalent in every country of Continental Aristocracy, feudalism, and arbitrary judicial legal system everywhere.
• The people did not enjoy any political right. They were being exploited by the king and his officers’.
• Social inequality was also deep-rooted. Society was divided into privileged class (comprising priests and nobles) and unprivileged class (comprising common people).
• The church was full of evils. The priest was enjoying luxurious life at the cost of the common The public trust was being misused.
• More than 80% of the French population was that of the peasantry. Hardly any resources were available to them to meet their basic needs. Wealth was in the hands of few individuals and institutions.

The ideas of the enlightenment were yet to find a manifestation in the political, social, religious, and economic spheres. That is why Immanuel Kant commented that the age in which Voltaire lived is yet to be enlightened.

Question #2. In an age of enlightenment of despotism the most enlightened was Frederick II who called himself as ‘I am the first servant of the State’. Discuss. 15 marks (250 words)

Hints:

Approach:

Introduce with the context of enlightenment and enlightened despotism.

Body

• Why despotic rulers of Europe adopted enlightened approach.
• Various rulers/despot of the time and reasons for calling Frederick as most enlightened.
• Define meaning of ‘I am the first servant of state’ as meant by Frederick II.
• His policies and actions justifying his enlightened despotic rule.

Conclusion

New monarchy which emerged in the 18th century with absolute power and also worried about individual rights of people was called enlightened despotism. The base for this form of absolutism and political trend was enlightenment in which reason, analysis and decision based on reliable data are valued rather than emotions.

In 18th century they tried to apply the principles of enlightenment in their kingdom. Because of this enlightened despots, absolute and suppressive monarchy was replaced by liberal and intellectual monarchy.

Body

• Inspired by the ideals of the Age of Enlightenment, Enlightened despots, held that royal power emanated not from divine right but from a social contract whereby a despot was entrusted with the power to govern in lieu of any other governments.
• They also adopted this approach owing to almost all of Europe being engulfed by idea of enlightenment and depots may have feared that failure of theirs to adopt new ideas may results in anarchy, revolution and bad state of affairs in general.
• Philosophers like Machiavelli and Voltaire supported a strong monarchy as the best tool to implement the goals and idea of enlightenment. A top down approach was favored. Almost all absolute monarchs favored and supported education, reforms in arts, freed economy from medieval structure and allowed its diversification and became more tolerant.
• Enlightened despots were- Joseph II of Austria who was determined to act on behalf of greatest good for all and he made education more accessible, adopted policy of religious tolerance and promotion of German language for unity. He also worked in the direction of freeing peasants from serfdom.

• Catherine the Great of Russia- she decried torture, improved education opened high school for women, improved health care, clarified the rights of nobility, religious toleration, greatly patronized arts, letters and philosophers. She also provided stable economic and political order. Her period was also called prosperous and golden.
• However owing to his greatest achievement in economic reforms and welfare for his subjects, Frederick II the Great King of Prussia (1740-86) was regarded as the most enlightened. It was his famous statement- ‘he is the first servant of state’ which formed the basis for most of his policies and approach.

Frederick II the Great King of Prussia- and why he was called most enlightened

• Under his rule Prussia was made great and paved path for unity of German.
• He was deeply interested in philosophy and He patronized Voltaire.
• As a first servant of state he believed that his job was not just to rule over his subjects/ country but to be He was deeply concerned about his subject and their welfare.
• He spoke against idea of Machiavelli which favoured that a ruler should do whatever he needs to do to show his powers and rule However according to Frederick a king should be chiefly concerned with wellbeing of his subjects.
• His policies can be understood through acronym TRAP: T= Toleration to all religion. R= Reforms of A= Absolutism. P= patronage of philosopher.
• He reformed the institutions of Judiciary where he allowed the non-Nobles to hold judicial post.
• On the similar lines reforms were made in civil service where it was opened t not only non- nobles but also promotion was be based on Thus he adopted meritocracy in critical institutions.
• He provided freedom of religion and adopted tolerant religious policy. He adopted protectionist policy for economic Thus it promoted indigenous industrial development.
• He was also deeply concerned about the well-being of his He was concerned with the advancement of sciences and agriculture. The potatoes were first introduced during his reign.

Conclusion:

However due to his over emphasis on military, he continued to support a highly militarized state which was contrary to the principles of enlightenment.

Also the enlightened despots were not successful in their endeavor to control things for long and thus French revolution and subsequent voices shrunk their hollow trend and adoption of enlightenment.