Connections to the Enlightenment Thinkers
Tunisian/Jasmine Revolution VS. Voltaire
The ideas of the revolutionaries in the Tunisian/Jasmine Revolution highly reflect on the ones of Voltaire. The key beliefs that was shared between Voltaire and the Tunisian revolutionaries are social equality and freedom. Because of issues such as unemployment and poverty, there was a serious wealth gap being formed between the financially rich and poor people; the privileges and opportunities were given to the rich, giving the economically unfortunate people a poor lifestyle and less chances. Furthermore, there was an inflation in food prices. This caused food deprivation, which ultimately violated the human right to food and water as well. In addition, citizens of Tunisia did not have the political right to speech; if one was to go against the country’s government, he or she would be arrested and even used violence on. These ideas are highly matching to the ones of Voltaire. He was a thinker from the Enlightenment period who seeked for social freedom and equality, as well as desire for justice, which are what the Tunisian revolutionaries also fought for.
The ideas of the revolutionaries in the Tunisian/Jasmine Revolution highly reflect on the ones of Voltaire. The key beliefs that was shared between Voltaire and the Tunisian revolutionaries are social equality and freedom. Because of issues such as unemployment and poverty, there was a serious wealth gap being formed between the financially rich and poor people; the privileges and opportunities were given to the rich, giving the economically unfortunate people a poor lifestyle and less chances. Furthermore, there was an inflation in food prices. This caused food deprivation, which ultimately violated the human right to food and water as well. In addition, citizens of Tunisia did not have the political right to speech; if one was to go against the country’s government, he or she would be arrested and even used violence on. These ideas are highly matching to the ones of Voltaire. He was a thinker from the Enlightenment period who seeked for social freedom and equality, as well as desire for justice, which are what the Tunisian revolutionaries also fought for.
French Revolution VS. Rousseau
The thoughts and the philosophies of Rousseau influenced the French Revolution both negatively and positively. In his most renowned work, The Social Contract, his first line says, “Man is born free, but everywhere is in chains.” He thought that everyone was born with their natural rights, or freedom that belongs to everyone since their birth. His idea of a perfect government was a republic, and as a result, the French government changed from a democracy into a republic at the end of their Revolution. In addition, Rousseau believed that people could only be free if they ruled themselves. He believed that freedom was “ruling oneself, living under a law which one has oneself enacted”, meaning that one should always be control his or her life. Furthermore, his philosophies influenced the government and their constitution. Using Rousseau’s idea of every person being born with their natural rights, the French government was able to create the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen.
The thoughts and the philosophies of Rousseau influenced the French Revolution both negatively and positively. In his most renowned work, The Social Contract, his first line says, “Man is born free, but everywhere is in chains.” He thought that everyone was born with their natural rights, or freedom that belongs to everyone since their birth. His idea of a perfect government was a republic, and as a result, the French government changed from a democracy into a republic at the end of their Revolution. In addition, Rousseau believed that people could only be free if they ruled themselves. He believed that freedom was “ruling oneself, living under a law which one has oneself enacted”, meaning that one should always be control his or her life. Furthermore, his philosophies influenced the government and their constitution. Using Rousseau’s idea of every person being born with their natural rights, the French government was able to create the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen.