Liberty of the Intellect
How education paved the way for revolution
Throughout the course of mankinds existence on this planet, being either declared or displaying evidence of intellect, intelligence or liberalism has been often met with harsh resistance and criticism. When one would bring forth an idea or system that did not adhere to the standard ideology of the present time or place (whether or not it benefited any of the populous), then that one individual would be condemned. For some unknown reason, non-conformity has always been viewed as a threat by whoever is in power and by whatever rules and standards they have set forth. Eventuality those oppressed for their work and/or beliefs will (and have) fight for their right and ability to bring what they can contribute to society or for freedom. In this readers response, we will examine the ties between the Enlightenment and the revolutionary period, plus how the works and struggle of some have changed us all.
The seeds of dissent always happen in the least expected places. For revolution has its beginnings in the Enlightenment has its beginnings with a man named Copernicus. Nicolaus Copernicus was a Polish astronomer who in 1503 had discovered that the sun was the center of our system and that the earth was revolving around it. It would take another astronomer to tackle the Copernican problem and his name was Kepler. Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer who determined that the orbits of the planets were elliptical. This proved that the planets could revolve around a sun-centered star system; in 1609 Kepler published Copernicus-based findings.
These theories were noticed but unchallenged by authorities until the discovery of Galileo. Galileo Galilei was born in 1564 in northern Italy, he had begun his work in 1609 at the age of 45. He was the first to use a telescope in order to letter view the stars. In his research of the sky, Galileo had found mountains on the moon as well as moon orbiting Jupiter. His studies had disproved the Ptolemaic determining that the universe was far more complex and vast for earth to be at the center. In 1632 he published his titled Dialogues on the Two Chief Systems of the World, while his work won him praise from the public, but had brought him scourge from the church. Later that year the church under the Inquisition demanded that Galileo recant his statements. Galileo replied It still moves in his defense, for defying papal orders Galileo Galilei was deemed a heretic and was excommunicated from church.
Galileo would be the first of many intellectuals to be persecuted by a reigning authority, but time would be on the side of intellectuals. In the 1630s with new world colonization and the Reformation people began to question and rationalize the unknown. One institution in need of and rationalization was the church. For centuries, with its outlandish higharchy along with its concepts of manifest destiny and original sin the church had been seen as an oppressor of the Enlightenment. Philosophers (those who followed the Enlightenment) believe that religions job was to nurture ones moral behavior and a life of virtue as oppose to the churchs pennants and dogma. The Enlightenment believed that nature was rational, so since God created nature then God must be a logical thinking individual. Another aspect of this new religious belief was also that in the hereafter, man would be judged by what they did and not who they were.
How education paved the way for revolution
Throughout the course of mankinds existence on this planet, being either declared or displaying evidence of intellect, intelligence or liberalism has been often met with harsh resistance and criticism. When one would bring forth an idea or system that did not adhere to the standard ideology of the present time or place (whether or not it benefited any of the populous), then that one individual would be condemned. For some unknown reason, non-conformity has always been viewed as a threat by whoever is in power and by whatever rules and standards they have set forth. Eventuality those oppressed for their work and/or beliefs will (and have) fight for their right and ability to bring what they can contribute to society or for freedom. In this readers response, we will examine the ties between the Enlightenment and the revolutionary period, plus how the works and struggle of some have changed us all.
The seeds of dissent always happen in the least expected places. For revolution has its beginnings in the Enlightenment has its beginnings with a man named Copernicus. Nicolaus Copernicus was a Polish astronomer who in 1503 had discovered that the sun was the center of our system and that the earth was revolving around it. It would take another astronomer to tackle the Copernican problem and his name was Kepler. Johannes Kepler was a German astronomer who determined that the orbits of the planets were elliptical. This proved that the planets could revolve around a sun-centered star system; in 1609 Kepler published Copernicus-based findings.
These theories were noticed but unchallenged by authorities until the discovery of Galileo. Galileo Galilei was born in 1564 in northern Italy, he had begun his work in 1609 at the age of 45. He was the first to use a telescope in order to letter view the stars. In his research of the sky, Galileo had found mountains on the moon as well as moon orbiting Jupiter. His studies had disproved the Ptolemaic determining that the universe was far more complex and vast for earth to be at the center. In 1632 he published his titled Dialogues on the Two Chief Systems of the World, while his work won him praise from the public, but had brought him scourge from the church. Later that year the church under the Inquisition demanded that Galileo recant his statements. Galileo replied It still moves in his defense, for defying papal orders Galileo Galilei was deemed a heretic and was excommunicated from church.
Galileo would be the first of many intellectuals to be persecuted by a reigning authority, but time would be on the side of intellectuals. In the 1630s with new world colonization and the Reformation people began to question and rationalize the unknown. One institution in need of and rationalization was the church. For centuries, with its outlandish higharchy along with its concepts of manifest destiny and original sin the church had been seen as an oppressor of the Enlightenment. Philosophers (those who followed the Enlightenment) believe that religions job was to nurture ones moral behavior and a life of virtue as oppose to the churchs pennants and dogma. The Enlightenment believed that nature was rational, so since God created nature then God must be a logical thinking individual. Another aspect of this new religious belief was also that in the hereafter, man would be judged by what they did and not who they were.