French Revolution Flashcards
What is the difference between a totalitarian democracy and liberal democracy？
Totalitarian：only one plant of existence and ideology with absolute values and everything is precisely defined. Aim for collective responsibility for political engagement.
Liberal：based on freedom of thoughts and individualism. Philosopher represents the collective will of people, you could choose which school and thoughts represent you. Open for possibilities and create an ideal utopian state based on trial and error
Enlightenment influence the French Revolution?
Enlightenment focuses on equality and rights of men. Inductive reasoning appiled to think about what our society look like under equal conditions. The need to justifly our system because of the unfair clash between the poor and rich. Power is not god given anymore.
Morals and values have to be self-evident for replacing god
General will？
Everyone should give up a little bit of freedom and gain collective will. In the radical republican phase they forced people to be on their side based on they considered as general will but never thought about who definded it and if everyone was consented with the idea.
What was the definition of equality and freedom?
Equality is not for everyone, it only applies to men over 25 and women and slaves were not free. It was strongly based on freedom from oppression.
How did the idea of the revolution begin?
Lower-class people were unhappy because they had no say in political discussions. It started with unstable financial situations, the nobles and upper class did not have to pay taxes. They aimed at true representatives that could speak the will of the working class, which contained 97% of the people in France.
The role of religion?
It was based on the Enlightenment thoughts of secularization. Religion was no longer funded by the state and all the church people has to submit to the constitution. The revolution and catholicism were unable to coexist as people were no longer blindly following the traditional order anymore but acting upon reason.
