Fascism vs. Enlightenment

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how, in history, there have been a myriad of political concepts and how many of the strongest philosophies have been modifications of previous ideas, reinforcing the good points and altering the flaws. In particular, it looks at how Fascism,as implemented by Benito Mussolini after World War I, attempted to correct perceived weaknesses in Enlightenment ideas. It shows how it also attempted to instill discipline and how, ultimately, although it wasn't successful, it is conceivable that in a different time it could have been. It provides a comparison of Fascism and Enlightenment ideas, showing where they agree, where they differ, and where they build upon each other.

From the Paper:

"At its peak, countless writers and philosophers added to the new methods of thinking. Voltaire was one of the most popular. Like many of his contemporaries, he didn't, "seek knowledge for [his] own personal joy, but rather planned for the aggrandizement of humankind in a longer sense" (Rogers 66). In A Philosophical Dictionary, he created a piece that is representative of his time period. Inside, he muses about astrology, authority, democracy, and equality. This nature of multi-faceted philosophy was what the Enlightenment was about. Furthermore, another notorious figure was Jean Jacques Rousseau, who penned works about taboo topics like gender roles and humans in society."

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