Final answer:
Anne Robert Jacques Turgot's concept of "perfectibility" refers to the potential for continuous improvement in humanity and society, aligning with Enlightenment beliefs. His idea of societal development suggests an evolution through stages, from simpler forms to more complex and rational social organizations, hinting at progressive history and the pursuit of a more ordered society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Concepts of "Perfectibility" and the "3 Stages in Progress" by Anne Robert Jacques Turgot
The concept of perfectibility in the context of Enlightenment thinkers such as Anne Robert Jacques Turgot refers to the inherent ability of human beings to continuously improve themselves and their societies. Turgot, an influential French economist and philosopher, suggested that through the application of reason and the empirical study of the world, humanity could achieve progressive improvement. This philosophical stance echoed the broader Enlightenment belief in the advancement of science and the betterment of the human condition, despite the era's societal and economic inequalities.Turgot's vision incorporated the notion of societal development through a sequence of stages, similar to the law of three stages as proposed by Auguste Comte. Although Turgot's own articulation of the stages might differ, the overarching idea is that societies evolve from simple to more complex forms of governance and social organization. This ties back to the Aristotelian concept of potentiality and actuality, and the Enlightenment optimism regarding the progression towards a more perfected state of being.In essence, Turgot believed in the capacity for human societies to progress, reflecting a shift from religious explanations for the world to more rational and scientific understandings, which culminated in the pursuit of a more civilized and ordered society. Viewing history as a linear progression towards improvement, Turgot's ideas foreshadowed later theories on social evolution and modernization.