Question

British Romanticism developed on the heels of the Enlightenment—a period in European history when huge advances in the sciences were made and when there was a lot of emphasis on order, reason and rationality.

Based off of what you've learned in this unit, how can we view and understand Romanticism as a reaction against the values of the Enlightenment? Look at elements of Romanticism from this unit and compare with values of the Enlightenment

Answer 1

Romanticism can be viewed as a reaction against the values of the Enlightenment because it rejected many of the Enlightenment's emphasis on order, reason, and rationality. Instead, Romanticism emphasized the importance of emotion, individualism, and the natural world.

Here are some elements of Romanticism and how they compare to the values of the Enlightenment:

1. Emotion vs. Reason: Enlightenment thinkers believed that reason and rationality were the best ways to understand the world and solve problems. However, Romantics emphasized the importance of emotion, intuition, and subjective experience. They believed that emotions could be a source of truth and wisdom, and that they could lead to a deeper understanding of the self and the world.

2. Individualism vs. Universalism: The Enlightenment placed a strong emphasis on universal principles and values that applied to all people. In contrast, Romanticism celebrated individualism and uniqueness. Romantic writers often focused on the experiences of particular individuals, rather than abstract ideas or generalizations about society.

3. Nature vs. Civilization: The Enlightenment celebrated human progress and the triumph of reason over nature. However, Romantics saw the natural world as a source of inspiration, beauty, and truth. They often wrote about the power and mystery of nature, and saw it as a way to escape from the constraints of civilization and society.

4. Imagination vs. Observation: Enlightenment thinkers believed that knowledge could be gained through observation and scientific inquiry. However, Romantics placed a greater emphasis on imagination and creativity. They believed that the imagination could reveal truths that were inaccessible through reason or empirical observation.

Overall, Romanticism can be seen as a reaction against the values of the Enlightenment because it challenged many of the assumptions and beliefs that underpinned the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, rationality, and order. Romanticism celebrated individualism, emotion, and the natural world, and saw the imagination as a powerful tool for understanding the self and the world.