Philosophes, Fathers, and Johnny Appleseed

Think of the scientific revolution as the first apple tree that John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) ever planted. The apple was a fruit that Americans had not been exposed to before. Just as Johnny Appleseed introduced the apple tree to large areas of the United States, the scientific revolution introduced the world to new ideas.

-Tree = Scientific Revolution
-Scientific Revolution produces new ideas
-New ideas = apples

The scientific revolution was the single most important factor in the creation of the new views brought about during the eighteenth century Enlightenment. Although the "fresh" ideas (fresh apples lol) of the time were diverse and often conflicting, three central concepts stand at the core in the apple of Enlightenment thinking.

Society split between 3 different groups, groups that I like to call the "PPP" or the P times 3 because it rhymes. (People, Public, Philosophes) By 1775, most of Western Europe's educated elite had embraced the new ideas of the Enlightenment. These educated and enlightened people were simply referred to as "the public." In turn, there was the great majority of the population, or the common people, who were simply referred to as "the people." (Or the hoi polloi for Maria) The philosophes, or simply the intellectuals, were the ones in charge of making Enlightenment thought accessible to this wide range of people. However, these philosophe dudes were very demeaning and almost paternalistic over their poor audiences. They honestly believed that they "were bringing the light of knowledge to their ignorant fellow creatures...and that the great majority of the common people were doomed because they lacked the money and the leisure to look beyond their bitter struggle with poverty." Basically, I think that these philosophes were very optimistic of themselves, yet very pessimistic of human nature. In order for society to progress in a positive direction (one of the 3 parts of the apple), the intellectuals must commit themselves to educating and informing the ignorant masses. Of course though, it was for their own good and for the good of society...There were no benefits for the fatherly philosophes at all! (sarcasm). 

A perfect example of a paternalistic, pessimistic philosophe is Francois Marie Arouet, AKA Voltaire. Before I continue.. I digress...

Not only did Voltaire believe that human beings are rarely worthy to govern themselves, but he also rejected the idea of social and economic equality. Servants would always be lesser than their masters, there was no changing that. Voltaire's belief in the unequal nature of humans severely clashed with Church doctrine. Christ's message of "loving God and your neighbor as yourself" would not fly according to Voltaire. 

Therefore, I think these philosophes had good intentions by wanting to improve and to advance society with the new ideas of the Enlightenment. However, they did not approach the situation in the correct manner. As usual, the common people didn't really matter and the elite was better than everyone else, the usual. To be completely honest though, I don't understand why Voltaire thought he was the man. He did have a pretty girly name after all... how embarrassing.