Verified Document

Propelling Western Civilization Forward Essay

Expansion in Literary Eras There are a number of poignant similarities and inherent differences found between the Age of Reason and the Age of Discovery. Moreover, these dissimilarities and parallels exist in the literature which typified each of these historical epochs. A close examination of the writings endemic to these time periods reveals that there was a definite focus on expansion. Mankind was attempting to progress, propelling civilization forward in the process. The key distinction between the writings of these ages is that in the Age of Discovery that progress was based on physical expansion, whereas in the Age of Reason that progress was based on intellectual expansion.

Numerous pieces of literature abound in the Age of Discovery attesting to the fact that the common motif of this era was physical expansion. In fact, the most noted works of this time period were those of explorers. These explorers were attempting to traverse the globe searching for new lands, cultures, and territories to claim for their European patrons. In this respect, a number of the writings effectively served as travelogues documenting these adventures. Christopher Columbus, for example, wrote several works detailing his voyages to the so-called New World. Fray Marcos de Niza composed similar writings in his quest for a city of gold for the nation of Spain. Therefore, the vast majority of the works during this period were about physical...

The explorers were seeking to make new discoveries in the physical world. Their writing—and that of the Age of Discovery—evinced this fact.
In contrast, some of the more noteworthy writings of the Age of Reason were about intellectual expansion. These works were not typically focused on travel and cultures or lands which were considered strange at the time. Instead, they focused on man’s intellectual prowess and achievement. An undercurrent to the writings of the Age of Reason is that they were about man’s achievement as contrasted to that of God. In most eras prior to the Age of Reason, man made deliberate attempts to remain subservient to God. During the Age of Reason, beliefs such as Deism counteracted that notion and contended that ultimately, man was the master of his own fate. Hobbes’ Leviathan typified this intellectual expansion. Although this book was a political treatise, it incorporated elements of philosophy, science, and even some religious components to stress man’s achievement. Locke’s Two Treatises of Government followed in this vein, although it was published towards the end of this historical era. Thomas Paine’s Age of Reason typified the sentiment of the day. This book contrasted God’s influence with man’s newfound prowess and ability to excel.

It’s…

Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Beauty and Sadness in Japanese Literature
Words: 1970 Length: 6 Document Type: Term Paper

Beauty & Sadness in Japanese Literature My Dear Friend, I applaud you ambition to visit Japan for a summer session of study, and your focus on the distinct works of literature and art to emerge from Japanese culture is admirable. Having devoted much of my own studies to Japanese literature, both in historical and contemporary form, I can honestly say that you are embarking on a personal quest for knowledge that, while

Guns, Germs and Steel and
Words: 1840 Length: 5 Document Type: Research Paper

As the world is more thoroughly explored, social scientists seem to find that the words social and science are largely contradictory and an oxymoron. Even rational choice theory bases its conclusions upon statistics and upon a costs and benefits analysis to come up with their conclusions in a more logical manner. Simply put, rationality can not be directly tested. Rather, social scientists that base their ideas upon rational choice

Theories Tactics Methods and Techniques
Words: 24173 Length: 76 Document Type: Term Paper

EDSE 600: History and Philosophy of Education / / 3.0 credits The class entitled, History and Philosophy of Education, focused on the origin of education and the "philosophical influences of modern educational theory and practice. Study of: philosophical developments in the Renaissance, Reformation, and revolutionary periods; social, cultural and ideological forces which have shaped educational policies in the United States; current debates on meeting the wide range of educational and social-emotional

Theodore Roosevelt: An American for
Words: 3918 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Proposal

... They were accustomed to living in the open, to enduring great fatigue and hardship, and to encountering all kinds of danger." The war against Spain and for the liberation of Cuba was one that would prove the superiority of America and its ideals. The United States, too, could join the nations of Europe as a major world power, with interests in every corner of the globe. Roosevelt became a hero

Positive Psychology the History and
Words: 2894 Length: 10 Document Type: Research Paper

Another near-contemporary of Rogers and Maslow is Albert Bandura, whose social learning theory is more part of the behaviorist school than the humanist, though these are not as dissimilar as is often thought (Bandura 2010; Ricks & Wandersman 1982). Ultimately, though Bandura's work is most famous for explaining aggression and other behavior developments, it is truly concerned with how people develop into functioning and satisfied human beings (Bandura 2010; Bandura

Global Human Development
Words: 2534 Length: 8 Document Type: Research Paper

UNDP Report Study Human Development Report 2011: A Study of the Improvements and the Deteriorations in Four Nations Our world has changed immensely in the past twenty-one years. Major improvements, such as high-speed communication via the internet, have allowed East and West to link together, yet some countries have stagnated, and others have even deteriorated. The reason the world is unequal and many countries are still suffering from war, disease, and poverty is

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now