The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement that took place during the eighteenth century in Western Europe. It emphasized reason and individualism and challenged traditional authority and social structures. The Enlightenment also questioned religious beliefs and dogma, leading to new ways of thinking about morality, politics, economics, and education. One aspect of this new way of thinking was how people viewed their own bodies and sexuality.
During the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church had a significant influence on European culture. The Church taught that human sexuality was something to be controlled and repressed, and that it should only be used for procreation within marriage. This view led to laws against premarital sex, homosexuality, adultery, and masturbation.
During the Enlightenment, many writers began to argue that humans were rational creatures who could control their own actions through reason. They believed that individuals should have freedom to make their own moral decisions based on logic and personal experience. This led to a new way of thinking about sexuality, which focused on pleasure rather than procreation.
One of the earliest thinkers to challenge the idea of sexual restraint was Montesquieu (1689-17555). He argued that the "natural" state of humans is one where they can fulfill their desires without fear of punishment or shame. He suggested that if societies want to promote virtue, they should encourage people to follow their natural impulses and not suppress them.
Other Enlightenment thinkers, such as Voltaire (1694-17788) and Diderot (1713-1784), also wrote about the importance of allowing people to pursue their natural inclinations. They believed that when individuals are allowed to act according to their nature, they will be more satisfied and happy in life.
As the Enlightenment continued, writers like Rousseau (1712-17782) and Locke (1632-1704) emphasized the importance of individualism and self-expression. They argued that people should be free to choose how they live their lives, including how they express their sexuality.
Some Enlightenment thinkers believed that society still had a role in shaping sexual morality. Kant (1724-1804) argued that while humans may have natural instincts, they must learn to control those impulses through reason and moral duty. He believed that human actions should be based on universal principles, rather than personal pleasure.
The concept of "the natural" played an important role in Enlightenment thought concerning sexuality and moral conduct. It led to new ways of thinking about sex and relationships, but it also created divisions within the movement itself. Some writers argued for complete freedom, while others believed in limitations or restraints. Today, we continue to wrestle with these issues, as we seek to understand the relationship between our physical desires and our ethical beliefs.
How did the concept of “the natural†evolve in Enlightenment thought concerning sexuality and moral conduct?
The term "natural" was used by the Enlightenment philosophers to mean the state of being uncorrupted, pure and free from any social constructs. In the context of sexuality and moral conduct, they believed that the natural state is one where there are no social restrictions or norms governing behavior. This idea can be traced back to the writings of John Locke, who argued that human nature is not inherently corrupt but rather prone to goodness.