Personal+Reflection+Page

Do not start a discussion OR post questions or comments from this page. Go to the "Questions and Comments" page to do so.

Students are required to **__submit their personal reflections on this page__**. Be sure to read all the wiki pages produced by your classmates and submit a one or two paragraph response outlining how you think any two enlightenment figures have contributed to the modern world. Remember that you may **__NOT__** choose your own figure for this section. Make sure that your personal reflection starts with **__your name and the names of the two figures__** who you have selected (place figure names in brackets). Skip a line and then start your reflection.


 * __example__**:

Mr. G. Hall (Voltaire and Rousseau)

I think that voltair blah, blah, blah ..........................................................................................

David Taibi (Smith, Voltaire)

I think Smith was a brilliant enlightenment thinker, because he knew the best way to run the economic system, which is a never-ending cycle. Smith had many writing that responded on the social and economic issues of his time. In smith book “ inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations”, he stresses the importance of free trade. He believes that the economy should work in a way as what you need you receive, known as supply and demand. Smith fits into the enlightenment good because of his big idea of having a free trade. This changed the world as we know it today. We do not live by the old way of the mercantile system, in which all a nations commercial products are monitored and kept under a strict wedge at which it must be paid. The free trade made nations more flexible by allowing society in the nation to success and grow larger. Ultimately, Smiths idea had lead to the expansion of many small businesses.

Voltaire was a brilliant enlightenment thinker because of his new radical idea, that the universe and what we believe in is not solely based on just one God. We didn’t need to establish one single tradition; we could use more or alternate ones. Voltaire believed in a universe that was based on reason and respect for nature. He believed we didn’t need to establish one single tradition; we could use alternate ones from different religions. Voltaire and the enlightenment era go hand-and-hand, because this era was one of change, Voltaire had the new idea to not follow every step that the church may want us too. He had the idea of new religions, and different ways of following them.

Cristina Valeri (Voltaire, Beccaria)

**The Enlightenment was a time of great change and new thinking in **Europe. **It moved away from the old ways of oppression into new demands for freedom. Voltaire was one of the most influential Enlightenment thinkers of his time and has made a great contribution to modern society. He believed in religious tolerance and that all citizens should have the right to practice their religion freely. Voltaire understood that religious persecution and religious wars only caused horrific violence and chaos within the state. He advocated for social reforms and voiced his opinions even though they were controversial and considered by some to be radical. Many of his ideas are outlined in the Declaration of the Rights of Man, which is still used as a role model for constitutions today. In our own Canadian Constitution, we all have the right to freedom of religion and freedom of speech. All Canadian citizens can practice their religion freely without persecution and voice their opinions, however radical, without consequences from the government. These are all ideas from Voltaire. ** **Cesare Beccaria was also influential on modern society. He did not agree with the inhumane treatment of criminals or capital punishment. He thought that the severe and cruel punishments often exercised on criminals would not reform them. Society could not teach a man that killing was wrong by killing him. Once again, Beccaria’s views are outline in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and even today, capital punishment has been abolished in many places. Prisoners now have the right to an education and a right to vote. They are treated if they have a serious medical condition. Prison is meant as a reform for criminals. These ideas and rights all stem from the Enlightenment thinker, Cesare Beccaria. **


 * //Olga Prokopchuk ( Marquise du Chatelet, Voltaire)//**

Enlightenment was the time during which a lot of men established themselves as philosophers and women were looked upon as not educated and not smart enough to discuss philosophy or similar matters. Marquise du Chatelet proved them all wrong because she was a highly educated and intellectual woman, who was respected by men for this. Besides the multitude of letters, notes and unpublished experiments, Du Marquise translated Oedipus Rex from Greek to French and published The Elements of the Philosophy of Newton in 1738, The institutions de Physique in 1740 and translated Principia of Isaac Newton in 1759 from original Latin to French. A beautiful, independent, smart woman she became an inspiration example and also a “turning point” for women’s society. Through her accomplishments she aspired change and hope for women of her time. Although Enlightenment was a time of change Voltaire’s ideas about freedom and liberty were considered too radical at that time. Voltaire believed that all humans are able to freely practice their religions and he also believed in civil rights. Many people who read his works rebelled against Church and government. His ideas are much quoted in today’s society (“This agglomeration which was called and which still calls itself the Holy Roman Empire was neither holy, nor Roman, nor an empire”). His works helped people to understand that they have rights and they have a freedom of choice.

Kyle St. Aubin (Adam Smith & Cesare Beccaria)

Adam Smith contributed to today’s modern world because many countries, especially Western nations such as the United States, employ his idea of capitalism as their economic system. Smith’s new idea not only affects the economy, it also affects our occupations and our ability to choose them, the distribution of wealth in our society, our modern culture and even the balance of global power as well. Contrary to older systems such as mercantilism, capitalism allows citizens the freedom to choose whichever occupation suits them. Capitalism affects our culture by influencing the products we buy and how we live our lives. It allows many people the opportunity to start their own businesses in hopes of becoming rich which promotes self-interest. The wealth accumulated through capitalism can be attributed to affecting the balance of global political power; a country with no money cannot do much to influence world events. Without Adam Smith and his idea of capitalism, our modern world would be a very different place. Even so, money makes the world go round.

Cesare Beccaria contributed to today’s modern world by revolutionizing the justice system. He proposed the abolition of the death penalty, which has become a reality in most modern countries. Even in places with the death penalty, authorities make an effort to make the executions as “humane” as possible. Beccaria proposed that harsh punishments do not deter criminals any more than lighter ones, which has led to the disappearance of many appalling and inhumane punishments. Beccaria denounced the practice of torturing criminals which has been outlawed in our society. The general humane treatment and rights of the imprisoned can be attributed to Beccaria. As an advocate for justice, Beccaria laid the foundation for a fair and humane justice system similar to that of our modern society today. We owe these many strides we have taken to reform our penal system to Beccaria and one day, thanks to him, we might achieve the perfect system he endeavoured towards.

Erin Palmer (Marquise du Chatalet, Cesare Beccaria)

As one of the only female Enlightenment thinkers, du Chatelet greatly impacted the way of thinking for all females around her. Not only did she impact the world of women, but she also influenced the way that men see women. At this point in time, it was expected that women do all the domestic work, such as take care for the children and clean the house. Du Chatalet defied these expectations through many of her writings. For example, in her book The Fable of the Bees, she wrote about the need for education in the lives of women. This idea was put into the minds of women at the time, changing their expectations of society, and demanding education. Du Chatalet's message for women at the time of the Enlightenment would be passed down from generation to generation, through her books and letters, growing stronger as the years progressed. This way of thinking for women would initiate the demand for women's rights in the future, all around the world, eventually leading to the equality of women worldwide.

Cesare Beccaria had a great impact on shaping our modern society. This Enlightenment figure believed that violent persecutions were wrong and should be abolished. He changed the way that people saw these acts, and his outspoken opinion let to the eventual abolishment of violent persecutions and alternate methods of punishment for criminals. Beccaria's idea to abolish violent persecutions was a radical idea at the time, however now it is the norm. It is ironic to think that in today's society, it would be a radical idea to punish criminals in an inhumane way.

Katelyn Chovance (Jean Jacques Rosseau, Montesquieu)

Jean Jacques Rousseau was an intellectual in the time of the Enlightenment. He had the idea of general will, that people would care more about the society as a whole rather than their individual concerns. He felt that government only needed to be temporary and needed to be watched carefully by the people it was governing. He contributed to the modern world his idea of the general will. People today are concerned about they’re individual well being, but they know that if the society is suffering, so are they. People today keep the society as a top priority so as to make their own personal lives easier.

Montesquieu’s main idea was that the government should divide power between three different sects so that the power was balanced among different people. It was important to not put to much power into certain spots in the society for some people would take advantage of it. His idea of the “Separation of Powers” influences the modern world daily. The government system that we reside under now has a separation of powers into different branches. These branches insure that the freedom of the people remains intact and not threatened.

Chantal Gray (Montesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau)

I think that Montesquieu was a great writer. He criticized the lifestyle of the French and the church. He believed there should be a government that cared about the needs of the society. He also believed there should be a balance of power between three officials, so that people did not take advantage of their power. Before, the Enlightenment the nobles only cared about their needs. The peasants were poor and had no rights. Montesquieu wanted a government that understood the needs of the people.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau is also an Enlightenment figure. He believed in the “general will”. He thought that the government should be kept in check by society. He also believed that everyone is equal and that no one was better than another person, because of this thought he wanted slavery abolished. These two Enlightenment figures have written radical philosophies about the government. They both want a government that cared about the needs and welfare of all people.

__**Amanda Campanaro** (Beccaria, Marquise du Chatelet) __

Cesare Beccaria had a very advanced view on politics and justice for his time. It was his work and publications that sparked controversy and change in society. His works demonstrated that he was an intellectual who stood by his beliefs (the death penalty, abolishment of severe punishment) and proved his point to the general public. His ideas and views are still found in our society today. Marquise Du Chatelet was the woman who single-handedly changed the way society played out in terms of women’s rights and opinions. Her influence throughout the Enlightenment was, no doubt, effective. Her intellect and logic drove her to achieve her goals and prosper as a strong and independent woman. Her writings, unpublished works, and translations of the Oedipus Rex from Greek to French were just simple examples of the brilliant work she produced, which was a product of her dedication to books and her studies. Her work and powerful messages that she brought forth in the Enlightenment period are still echoed in the life we live today and have began to change society for the better.

Christian Curto-Voltaire Marquise du Chatelet-

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Volataire was a radical intellectual who produced modern thoughts at such an early time. His idea of people being able to freely practice their own religion was much too radical, especially for the church to handle at the time. However, his way of thinking sparekd movements for public opinion and freedom of speech which had never been seen before> He brought about new ways of communicating ideas of which we use today.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Chatelet was instrumental in paving the way for female intellectuals throughout the rest of the enlightenment. Her radical thinking and, ideas brought a fresh new look to those who could be intellectuals. It was not a men only thing anymore. She proved that women do have a say, and that women can make a difference. She displayed to women that they could stll have a voice, and they could still get educated because their opinions mattered. Chatelet provided the grounds of which many highly intelligent women like her still walk on to this very day.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Adreanna Dawson ( The Marquise du Chatelet, Jean-Jacques Rousseau)

The Enlightenment period was a time of significant change. As mentioned before, established intellectuals played a primary role in influencing new ideas and refined ways of thinking within society. In particular, The Marquise du Chatelet and Cesare Beccaria were two outstanding philosophes whose fundamental values have gone as far as contributing to our modern world today. Primarily, through the magnificent, genius, determined work of du Chatelet, women in our new world are now viewed as equal members of society. Her passion for mathematics and science as well as her longing for equality were the stepping stones which has allowed women of our day and age to go out and pursue any career just as a male would. Effectively breking through a barrier of freedom and hope, du Chatelet inspired intelligent women nationally to stand up for their right to be acknowledged for their academic efforts. It is to her that women of our modern world owe great thanks. Du Chatelet is solely responsible for aspiring equality amongst women in a revolving world. Similarly to du Chatelets affect on views of humanity, Rousseau heavily influenced the dignity of the human person as seen in our modern world today. Rousseau was a firm believer in the equality of all men, the abolition of slavery and the opposition to capital punishment and torture. We can see in our society today that we strive to attain and maintain these ways of living through equal rights under the law, jail sentencing and rehabilitation centers as well as alternative punishment methods instead of torture. Through the influence of Rousseau, our modern day world has found motivation to make this a peaceful place to be. Therefore, it is fair to say that our world will continue to revolve as we adapt ideas of historical philosophes into the 21st century.

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Katie Frewin, Beccaria and Voltaire __

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Cesare Beccaria’s views on things such as justice are seen very well in today’s times. Beccaria was against the extreme punishments of criminals from his time and he was also against the death penalty, much like we are today. He felt that we should treat the accused much better than they were, and that if we treated them better, there would be a better change for them to reform. This is reflected in today’s times because in today’s society, we (the state) view capital punishment as wrong and believe that criminals still hold their human rights.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Voltaire’s thoughts are easily seen in today’s society as well. Voltaire, whose ideas were much to radical for the chuch’s liking at the time, felt that people should be free to practice whatever religion they wish and should not be punished for it. This view is held my many, many people today. We are an accepting society (in general) and we allow people to hold whatever religion they wish without being persecuted. Voltaire’s concept of tolerance is especially shown today through the various new equality laws and rules that have been put into place in recent years.

__//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Meghan Adams (Voltair ////<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">e //__ __,__ //__Marquise du Châtelet)__//

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The Enlightenment was a time of change, "The Age of Reason." One of the Enlighlightenment figures that contributed to the change was Voltaire. Voltaire contributed to today's modern world in his beliefs of freedom of religion or practice. His belief was that everyone had a right to believe what they wanted to believe, without the government telling other wise. Before the Enlightenment, the Third Estates people did not know their rights as citizens. However, people of Voltaire's time were influenced by his writing. Educating people of their rights led to revolts against the government //**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">. **//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> People of today are accepting of different beliefs and races. Majority of people today in a modern society want equality. Without Voltaire's idea the equality of people would not be as strong.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Along with Voltaire came a revolutionary thinker, a woman whose name was Marquise du Châtelet. She would break the barriers of what was stereotypical of women in the 18th century. She became an extremely respected intellectual of her time. In the Enlightenment, writing and work from women was denied in public. Because this unsettled Châtelet, she used her connections to get her ideas out there. She became inspirational by changing society for women in the 18th century with her publishings. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Marquise put alot of her time into her studies: reading, writing, publishing, and gaining respect in a male dominated world. Châtelet' s main belief and support was for equality, especially for women and female intellectuals. She felt that women should be acknowledged for their work, which she strongly expressed through her writings. Without <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px;">Marquise du Châtelets' influence, women would not have the equality they have today. Women of the modern society would not be able to work along side men, speak freely of their ideas, ambitions, and goals and have the right to vote as an equal to men.

**Kayla Karl** (Marquise du Chatlet, Beccaria)
I think the Marquise du Chatlet was a brilliant Enlightenment figure. She was a woman that was strong willed and very intelligent for the time period that she lived in. It seemed as though no one or nothing would stop her from pursuing further education in science and math. It was also the lack of love and charisma in her relationship with her husband that motivated her to pursue the education in these subjects. One wouldn’t think that those aspects would be motivational, but for her they were. She did not like that fact that women who were smart and intelligent were denied in the public eyes. In other words, they were not allowed to showcase their talents. This did not stop her, as she showcased her intelligence publicly and did not seem to care what other people thought. She has contributed to the modern world greatly because without her, women would not be able to show how smart they are, they would not be seen as equal to men. In her time she marked the turning point for women in society. Without her, women would not be able to speak their mind, have their voices heard publicly or fight for the certain freedoms that they want. Since she was successful, it made women today be successful. She reflected possibilities for women in a time where there weren’t a lot for them. She is a symbol for women today on how to be your own woman in a man’s world. Beccaria is important to the modern world because of his opposition to the death penalty and any kind of torture used to harm criminals. People today are fighting against the death penalty, because like Beccaria, they see it as unjust. He also made a justice system that is much like ours is today. His idea’s were also ones that no one had ever thought of before or would have dared to speak of much like today with the talk of bringing back the death penalty in Canada. Also, like people think today, killing someone that has done something wrong will not bring justice to the family or to the person that was harmed, he believes that it does no good. His idea’s and writings reflected freedom, which currently in today’s society, is what a lot of people are fighting for.