Sources of the making of the west
Western Civilization II
1 February 2013
Paper One The authors of the documents in chapter 18 of the Sources of the Making of the West, by Katharine Lualdi, were Marie-Therese Geoffrin, M d’Alembert, Jacques-Louis Menetra, Cesare Beccaria, Adam Smith, and King Fredrick II. Each of these Enlightenment authors wrote about what they wanted to transform or what they were altering around them during the mid and late 18th century in Europe. M d’Alember wrote about how Geoffrin would only be nice to the higher class to get what she wanted for others showing that she did not like the social structure. Menetra spoke about his disgust for the Catholic Church. Beccaria wrote about how he was appalled with the way law was being practiced. Adam Smith one of the founders of modern economics wrote of how they should have a free market without government interference. King Fredrick II wrote about how different he was from most rulers of the day by actually caring for the people of his kingdom. According to these authors the primary purpose of the enlightenment was to change something, but not what they were specifically talking about. There is a greater destiny behind the mirror of their new ideas. This destiny is to have equality for all people. Although these Enlightenment authors desperately wanted a transformation to enhanced social stature, religion, law, and economics, they exceedingly craved equality for all. The social structure or class system at the time of the enlightenment was a major thorn in the paw of every enlightened mind. The nightmare of being born into poverty and not being allowed to ever move out or marry up was a reality to many people in 18th century France. At this time the poor were supposed to be poor and the rich nobles and clergy were supposed to be rich. Miss Geoffrin did not like this cast system that the upper class had created to keep the underprivileged meager. So much so that since she was a young child she would go as far as giving the
1 February 2013
Paper One The authors of the documents in chapter 18 of the Sources of the Making of the West, by Katharine Lualdi, were Marie-Therese Geoffrin, M d’Alembert, Jacques-Louis Menetra, Cesare Beccaria, Adam Smith, and King Fredrick II. Each of these Enlightenment authors wrote about what they wanted to transform or what they were altering around them during the mid and late 18th century in Europe. M d’Alember wrote about how Geoffrin would only be nice to the higher class to get what she wanted for others showing that she did not like the social structure. Menetra spoke about his disgust for the Catholic Church. Beccaria wrote about how he was appalled with the way law was being practiced. Adam Smith one of the founders of modern economics wrote of how they should have a free market without government interference. King Fredrick II wrote about how different he was from most rulers of the day by actually caring for the people of his kingdom. According to these authors the primary purpose of the enlightenment was to change something, but not what they were specifically talking about. There is a greater destiny behind the mirror of their new ideas. This destiny is to have equality for all people. Although these Enlightenment authors desperately wanted a transformation to enhanced social stature, religion, law, and economics, they exceedingly craved equality for all. The social structure or class system at the time of the enlightenment was a major thorn in the paw of every enlightened mind. The nightmare of being born into poverty and not being allowed to ever move out or marry up was a reality to many people in 18th century France. At this time the poor were supposed to be poor and the rich nobles and clergy were supposed to be rich. Miss Geoffrin did not like this cast system that the upper class had created to keep the underprivileged meager. So much so that since she was a young child she would go as far as giving the