According to Albert Soboul, what role did the Enlightenment play in the revolution?

Prepare for the VCE Revolutions Exam with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question comes with hints and explanations to ensure you grasp the key concepts. Ace your exam with confidence!

Albert Soboul posits that the Enlightenment played a pivotal role in undermining the ideological foundations of the established order leading up to the revolution. The Enlightenment introduced ideas of individual rights, liberty, and equality, which challenged the prevailing notions of absolute monarchy and feudal privilege. Thinkers such as Voltaire, Rousseau, and Montesquieu promoted concepts that questioned traditional authority and encouraged people to envision a society based on reason and justice rather than hereditary privilege.

These Enlightenment ideals inspired revolutionaries to seek a transformation of society, political structures, and governmental authority. By emphasizing the potential for reasoned government and the importance of popular sovereignty, the Enlightenment contributed significantly to the revolutionary fervor that characterized this period. This shift in thought laid the groundwork for challenges against established institutions and promoted a vision of a new order based on egalitarian principles, illustrating how deeply Enlightenment ideas influenced revolutionary actions.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy