One of the topics that I would like to dwell on for a moment is how Voltaire shows the means by which the idea of reason has evolved during the Enlightenment. The text I intend to use comes from page twenty: " Observe: our noses were made to carry spectacles, so we have spectacles. Legs were clearly intended for breeches, and we wear them." I believe this piece of text illustrates a new way of thinking to the human mind. Before people were "enlightened", -living in the dark, they thought that their noses were made to smell and that their legs were made for walking. We can see that when the people of the day stepped into light, their way of thinking became more sophisticated. I would say that Voltaire incorporates this into his sattire by showing how this over-intellectual way of thinking can blind you of common sense.
p.s i commented on Rachel's blog...
I am a huge fan of this satirical view on how "enlightened" society has twisted facts to meet theories instead of vice versa. We have become so caught up in reasoning and logic that we have taken something beautiful in its simplicity and made into something complicated and without real meaning. Common sense is something of a lost concept in modern society and that is truly sad.
ReplyDeleteIt has been said by many people that common sense should now be referred to as uncommon sense. That is most definitely true. It has become something that no one seems to be interested in using. I think it is because people like to put up a front that makes them look much smarter than they actually are. This seems like something that would cause someone to say that we have noses for glasses. Does it really mean that people are enlightened if they go around pretending like they are deep thinkers just to look smart? I don't think so.
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