Short notes on French Revolution

The French Revolution of 1789 was one of the path-breaking events in the modern history of the world; however,

it was the material revolution in the realm of ideas. In this connection, the writings of the philosophers had a tremendous influence.

The intellectual revolt was brought about by a group of French philosophers of whom the most prominent were Montesquieu, Voltaire and Rousseau. Their writings gave expression to the discontent & indignation which lay latent in the hearts of the French people.

Montesquieu was an ardent advocate of constitutional monarchy and spoke highly of the English system of Government. He exposed the fallacy of the theory of divine right of kings and the evils of absolute monarchy. Voltaire, a master of batting satire enjoyed almost autocratic authority by reason of his powerful writings.

He advocated the supremacy of the reason and mercilessly attacked everything that failed to stand its test. He directed his attack especially against the bigotry and intolerance of the church. His fiery shafts did much to undermine the respect for authority on the minds of people. His destructive criticism did much to reduce the shock of the Revolution when it eventually came.

Voltaire had harnessed the horses of reason; Rousseau unchained the tiger of emotion. Voltaire aimed at destroying the existing institutions; whole Rousseau came forward with a plan of social reconstruction. According to him, society rests upon agreement of the persons who compose it. Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains in the main burden of his work, “Social Contract.”

All government rests upon the consent of the governed. He proclaimed the equality of men, and sovereignty of people. Such a theory aimed not only at reform, but wholesale reorganization of society in accordance with free will of the sovereign people. The influence of Rousseau was tremendous in France and supplied the revolution with its fighting creed.’

The economic system of France was strongly criticized by a group of Economists known as Physiocrats. They were strongly opposed to every form of State interference in trade & commerce. They held that land was the sole source of wealth and so all taxation should be reduced to a single land tax. They also advocated complete free trade. Their writings had great influence on the course of the French Revolution.

The French Revolution is ascribed to the influence of the writings of philosophers. The manifold ills and anomalies from which the nation suffered, coupled with the mistakes of the government, brought about the catastrophe. Nevertheless these writers were a powerful factor in the Revolution. In a soil prepared by social grievances, the French philosophers flung broadcast the seed of philosophical speculation, which is generally the presage of the Revolution.