Posted: February 18th, 2022

The History of Ideas and the Development of Democracy

The History of Ideas and the Development of Democracy
Student’s Name
Institution Affiliation

Abstract
Philosophers had a significant contribution to the development of knowledge. The philosopher resulted in the rise of popular opinions thus revolutions. The reports seek to explain the history of the Philosophers especially the Greek Philosophers. It also looks at the overall history of democracy and its development in France leading to the French Revolution. Some of the people who were significant in the development of democracy include Lycurgus and Solon. For example, Solon worked towards the integration of different factions between the rich and poor in Athens. In France, Montesquieu and Callas were important figures regarding the constitutional powers and religion respectively in the 18th Century. Furthermore, it analyses essential information regarding the universality of freedom. The universal values promote personal and societal development. The paper also analyses that the values of democracy can be adopted and not imposed on the people. For example, the universal values supplement the civilization process thus eliminating aristocratic and dictatorial forms of governments.
Moreover, the report evaluates the role of the philosophers in the development of religions, democracy, and theories explaining phenomena that were initially regarded as mysterious. It is based on the scope of history and significance of the events. The information provided is obtained from research conducted in various historical databases. The influence of the philosophers had an impact on the current lifestyles. They led to the development of knowledge that governs the daily activities of people.

Table of Contents
Abstract 2
Introduction 3
History of the Philosophers 4
The Greek Philosophers 7
History of Democracy 12
History of French Democracy 15
The French Revolution 16
Universality of Democracy 21
Conclusion 23
References 24

Introduction
The beginning of knowledge can be traced back to the ancient times. During this period, there existed little knowledge which limited the understanding of phenomena to myths and narratives. The ancient philosophers tried to advance theories and proponents which explained the occurrence of particular phenomena such as lightning. Therefore, it led to the emergence of knowledge which formed the foundation of enlightenment (Lefebvre, 1962). For instance, the philosophers were essential in enlightening human thought on the issues of democracy and equality. Furthermore, the philosophical knowledge formed the foundation of scientific inventions and ideologies. During this period, the governments were characterized by the aristocratic and monarchical structure. The forms of governance limited the freedom of the individuals and even their participation in functions of government. Therefore, the emergence of the philosophers played a vital role in promoting the ideas of equality and freedom which are the characteristics of democracy (Goodwin, 2016). The paper focuses on the history of the philosophers especially the Greek philosophers and their influences. It also looks at the history of democracy in France, the French Revolution, and the universality of democracy.

History of the Philosophers
The History of the Western Philosophers began about the 6th Century in Ancient Greece. For instance, Thales is regarded as one of the earliest philosophers. However, he was more focused with natural philosophy referred as science rather than philosophy. Most of the pre-Socratic philosophers including Thales limited their scope of research and discussion to Metaphysics. The pre-Socratic philosophers were Materialists. Therefore, they were concerned with establishing the underlying substance which made up the world without inclining with supernatural and mythological explanations (Dray, 1989). For example, Thales indicated that the universe consisted of various forms of water. Anaximenes stated the world was composed of air. Also, Heraclitus suggested that it was made of fire and Anaximander explained that it consisted of something that was infinite and boundless.
The pre-Socratic philosophers were also faced with the problem of change in that the things appeared to exhibit different forms. For instance, Heraclitus believed in the existence of permanent change which was the process of constant interplay between the opposites. On the other hand, another pre-Socratic philosopher, Parmenides, opposed the argument of change and indicated that the existence of things in the universe was unchanging and permanent. His deductive argument suggested that their existence was indestructible. Parmenides argument was essential in that it encouraged other philosophers to come up with counter arguments that explained the problem of change(Dray, 1989). Parmenides student Zeno had great contribution because he advanced and revealed the paradoxes of motion. The paradoxes of motion formed the foundation of logic study.
The ideas of the pre-Socratic philosophers may be considered unconvincing today. However, it should be noted that during this time, there was no scientific knowledge. Therefore even the commonest phenomena like lightning were miraculous thus were explained using mythology. The attempts of the philosophers provided a scope for the development of rational understanding and interpretation. They also formed a foundation for influential pre-Socratic philosophers, Empedocles and Democritus. For instance, Empedocles combined the ideas of the pre-Socratic philosophers into a theory referred as the four classical elements. Empedocles theory became the standard reference for the next 2000 years (Keohane, 1980). Democritus developed the idea of Atomism. It indicated that all things are composed of building blocks known as atoms. The particles occupied different positions in matters to form different shapes. Pythagoras was also another influential philosopher of the Ancient times. He believed that numbers governed reality. Therefore, he advocated for the study of Mathematics to counter reality.
The Classical period was characterized by the existence of great philosophers such as Plato and Socrates. Socrates was focused on the behavior of people thus the advancement of theories concerning ethics. For instance, Socrates developed an approach to critical reasoning which focused on teachings of how to lead decent lives and differentiate the right from the wrong. His system, the Socratic Method, was aimed at breaking down the problems into questions (Dray, 1989). The answers to the questions provided a framework for establishing the solution. However, his questioning method evoked negative emotions with the authorities which eventually led to his death. Since Socrates never documented his works, his views are obtained from the dialogues of Plato, his student.
Plato was influential in blending the knowledge concerning metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy into systematic philosophy. He is considered as the philosopher to oppose the reality of materialism based on facts. Plato developed doctrines like Idealism, Platonic Realism, and Essentialism. He also advanced the Universals theory and theory of forms. He also suggested that virtue represented a kind of Knowledge that people needed acquire in the pursuit of ultimate good which is the primary objective of the actions and desires of humans.
Aristotle was also an influential philosopher during the classical period. He greatly influenced the creation of a more comprehensive philosophical system. For instance, the system integrated Logic, Ethics, Metaphysics, Aesthetics, Science, and Politics. Aristotle’s work influenced the philosophical thinking of the medieval period. In his system of concerning Deductive Logic, Aristotle emphasized on syllogism. He also indicated that matter and form existed together since they were inseparable (Keohane, 1980). Aristotle also believed in Eudaimonism. Also, he noted that the concept of ethics was more complicated since persons do not have the ability to control their environment. He suggested that individuals can achieve happiness by avoiding accesses in their pursuit of a golden mean thus living a balanced life.
After the Socratic period, it was followed by the philosophers of the medieval period of about the 4th and 5th Century. During this time, the philosophers were concerned with religion. Therefore, they focused on proving the existence of the Supreme Being, God. They also tried to reconcile both Islam and Christianity with the classical philosophy. Some of the most influential Islamic philosophers of the time include Avicenna and Averroes. Avicenna developed Aviccenian Logic which tried to integrate the Islamic theology with Neo-Platonism and Aristotelian’s. Also, he developed the tabula rasa concept which influenced Empiricists such as John Locke (Dray, 1989). On the other hand, Averroes did translations of the writings of Aristotle which impacted on the European Scholastic Movement.
The Christian philosopher of the medieval period tried combining Logic, Semantics, Epistemology, and Metaphysics. They also tried integrating the ideas of the classical philosophers with the Christian theology. The most influential Christian Philosophers of this period include St. Anselm, St. Thomas Aquinas, Peter Abelard, and John Duns Scotus. For instance, Abelard contributed in the introduction of the limbo doctrine for the anabaptized babies. St. Anselm was pivotal in the development of the Ontological Argument which explained the existence of God.
The Greek Philosophers
In the ancient times, people believed in magic and mythology. The magic and myths were used to interpret and understand the world and the forces of nature. According to the ancient people, the world was influenced by the existence of a higher deity. The Greek Philosophers advanced a different approach of interpreting the philosophical paradigm. For instance, the philosophers diverted from the mythological explanation thus embarking on explanations and interpretations that were based on evidence and reasoning (Benn, 1882). The approach enhanced the advancement of research to facilitate the understanding of phenomena and forces of nature. Therefore, the Greeks saw the rise of philosophers that advanced proponents explaining different philosophical ideas. Among the philosophers, some of them stood out due to the advancement of ideas in nature science and philosophy which impacted on the lives of people. The application of their ideas in the society in the fields of science and philosophy gave the philosophers recognition which has lived in the current century. Some of the most influential Greek Philosophers are discussed below.
Thales of Mellitus
He is the most significant among the Greek Philosophers. He was pivotal in ancient Greek philosophy thereby leading to the rise of many thinkers, theorists, philosophers, dialects and the Metaphysicists. For instance, Thales is referred as the father of ancient Philosophy in Greece. For example, most of Thales ideologies come from the depiction of Aristotle. Aristotle points out that Thales was the first person to show the basic principles like the origin of matter. Furthermore, Thales is considered as the founder of the natural philosophy school. Thales never confined his research and observations on the available knowledge. He concentrated in understanding and interpreting the aspects of mathematics, geography, philosophy, the scientific knowledge (Guthrie and Wallen, 2012). For instance, he developed a standard for theorizing the occurrence things. Also, he advanced a proponent that water is the primary component of the universe. Among the Greek Philosophers, Thales commanded respect and esteem. He ventured into geometrical research which enhanced his measurement of the pyramids. He put forth a hypothesis that added meaning and led to the development of new ideas concerning nature. Therefore, he significantly contributed to the beginning and development of philosophy and science. He died in 547 (Guthrie and Wallen, 2012).
Aristotle
Aristotle of Stagira was a disciple of Plato. Among Plato’s disciples, he was the most influential. His interpretation and understanding of concepts were based on facts. For instance, the events were based on learned experience in life. Aristotle’s approach differed from Plato’s in that his master preferred analysis using the perspective that was regarded to be beyond the physical senses accessibility (Warner, 1958). He emerged as an imaginative writer and creative polymath. Therefore, he re-wrote pre-established concepts and ideologies in the fields of knowledge he dealt with such as science. During that time, human knowledge was too generalized. Aristotle broke down the general knowledge thus assimilating it into categories such as biology, physics, ethics, and mathematics. The classification is still used today in the classification of knowledge. The prominent works of Aristotle include the Prior Analytics, the Nichomachean Ethics, the Animal History, and the Metaphysics. The other works comprise of the Poetics, the Politics, and the Rhetoric. Aristotle had a significant influence on the foundation and development of modern science. His impact in science and Philosophy went beyond the ancient Greece into the modern times.
Plato
He was the student of Socrates. Plato was influenced by Socrates’ approach to Philosophy. For instance, Socrates focused on the interpretation of Philosophy based on human reasoning. However, Plato diverted a different approach thus concentrated on the combination of two major approaches of Socrates. The criteria comprised of the pre-Socratic metaphysics and the religious nature regarding the ethical-theology of Socrates. The Philosophy of Plato was based on a threefold approach which consisted of physics, dialects, and ethics. His theory of forms provided the central unison point for all the approaches (Warner, 1958). According to Plato, the good was considered as the highest of the forms. Therefore, he regarded it as the primary causes of knowledge and existence. Concerning Physics and its concepts, Plato agreed with most of Pythagoreans views. He put forth a hypothesis that the human soul once lived in a better and now exists in a fallen world. His theory enhanced the combination of Christianity and the philosophy of Plato. The combination resulted in the popularity of Platonism. However, Platonism presented an element of Platonic love that advocated for homosexual relationships that were not acceptable in Christianity. He wrote works such as the Republic which served as a blend of ethical aspects, the concepts of metaphysics, and political philosophy.The mixture and combination led to the development of a systematic and meaningful philosophy that was applicable.
Socrates
He provided a new perspective of attaining practical results by the application of philosophy in daily activities. The approach was missing in the pre-Socratic Philosophy. The Philosopher before Socrates concentrated on the interpretation and assimilation of physical speculations. However, Socrates diverted from this method thus focused on the establishment of an ethical system based on human reasoning rather than mythological and theological doctrines. Furthermore, Socrates did not regurgitate ideas based on his interpretations. He concentrated on questioning people concerning their beliefs thus tried to find the meaning of virtues by questioning the individuals that proclaimed the possession of such qualities. Socrates ideologies gave him not only followers but also enemies. His realistic and practical approach and philosophical beliefs led to his execution by the court (Guthrie and Wallen, 2012). The judges labeled against his suggested that Socrates had an influencing the corruption of the youth. Some of his students comprised of Plato and Xenophone.
Pythagoras
He is famous for his theories in Mathematics rather than in Philosophy. For example, he advanced the geometrical theorem in mathematics referred as the Pythagoras Theorem. His name is famous since the times of the pre-Socratic Society. Socrates is also credited with the foundation of a philosophical school which enabled him to acquire many disciples. He used the school to establish mutual harmony between real life and the practical concepts of philosophy. His teachings also encompassed the issues concerning the rules of living and the daily foods for consumption. Among the philosophers of that time, Pythagoras related the world to a place of perfect harmony (Guthrie and Wallen, 2012). Therefore, he aimed his teachings in advocating the ways in which people would lead a harmonious life.
Zeno
Zeno devoted his time interpreting and explaining the puzzles and paradoxes regarding motion and plurality. For instance, he tried explaining the contradicting conclusions which existed in the current world before the development of logic. Furthermore, he expanded and defended Parmenides Philosophical ideologies. Zeno also propounded paradoxes which became a subject of debate among the later generation philosophers. Most of the contemporary arguments regarding his paradoxes led to the infinity division of space and time. For example, he put forth a proponent that if a distance exists, half a distance of the postulated distance also exists (Kirk and Schofield, 1983). He was among the first philosophers to show and explain the existence of the infinity concept.
Empedocles
He was an influential figure in the pre-Socratic era. He wrote poems that influenced later poets such as Lucretius. He advanced an assertion regarding the four element theory. The theory states that matter is comprised of four elements such as water, earth, fire, and air. His theory was among the postulates in the field of particle physics. For instance, his ideas contradicted the postulates of Parmenides. For example, he rejected the existence of space or a void. He also theorized that there existed opposing motive forces that were involved in the development of the world. For instance, Empedocles put forth the ideologies that love and strife played a pivotal role in union and separation (Kirk and Schofield, 1983). Furthermore, he was among the first philosophers to give an account of evolution concerning species development.
Anaximander
He served a pivotal role in ancient geography and biology. Anaximander is also credited with being among the first prominent philosophical writers. Furthermore, he developed the first image of an open universe. Therefore, Anaximander diverted from the notion of the closed world thus becoming the first speculative astronomer in the history of humans. He also participated in the expansion of his master’s views. For example, he proposed a principle which he believed to be the foundation of the universe (Guthrie and Wallen, 2012). Unlike Thales, Anaximander believed that the basis comprised of an aperion which served as the primary source of everything. The source played a significant role as the pivotal differentiation points for opposites such as the light and the dark.
Anaxagoras
He was an important figure during the pre-Socratic era. He taught in Athens. Most of his philosophical works were concerned with nature. Therefore, he presented ideas that contrasted the beliefs and ideologies of the people thus endangering his life. He is credited as the first person to establish philosophy in Athens (Guthrie and Wallen, 2012). In his ideologies concerning nature, he explained that the universe is an undifferentiated mass unless acted upon by a spiritual force which he referred as nuos. According to Anaxagoras, the things that existed in the physical world contained a portion of everything. He stated that nothing existed in its pure form.
Parmenides
He was a follower of Pythagoras. His works include a poem titled ‘On Nature’ (Guthrie and Wallen, 2012). His philosophical works tried to unravel the contradictory statement of ‘is it or is it not?’ He indicated that anything that existed had existed before because nothing would have developed from ‘nothing itself.
The other Greek Philosophers that influenced the development and understanding of ideologies regarding science and philosophy include Antisthenes and Heraclitus. The evolution of philosophical concepts and critical thinking which led to the development of knowledge relevant to today’s lives (Guthrie and Wallen, 2012). The philosophers put forth various approaches which tried to explain the philosophical puzzles and paradoxes. Moreover, they enhanced the interpretation of ideologies regarding fields such as natural science and metaphysics thus the evolution of philosophy.
History of Democracy
It is believed that democracy and the concepts of the Constitution originated from the Ancient Athens. However, evidence indicates that democracy in other parts of the World before the 5 the Century (Kalyvas, 1996). The forms of democracy include oligarchy, monarchy, aristocracy, and tyranny. Scholars show that democracy governments were first experienced in other areas other than the ancient Greece. Democracy developed in Greece after civilizations in regions like the Middle East and Egypt.
Mesopotamia
Scholars such as Thorklid Jacobsen employed the use of Sumerian epic and other historical records and myths to study first democracy in pre-Babylonian Mesopotamia. In this form of democracy, the power or authority to rule is bestowed upon a few free males in the nations. Moreover, the power structure in this government is loose; thus the governmental functions are less specialized. For instance, in Mesopotamia, the duties of the government were determined by the young men and the council of elders (Saxonhouse, 1996). They possessed the powers and final political authority thus the king needed to consult them before the execution of essential functions in the society.
India
The scholars indicate that democratic institutions existed in ganas, sanghas, and the Independent Indian Republic before the 4th century (Kalyvas, 1996). However, there is no concrete evidence to support their existence of the Independent India. The gana structure was characterized by the presence of monarch referred as Raja and an assembly which made the state decisions. The monarchy worked in coordination with the assembly to execute its mandate.
Sparta
In the ancient times, Greece was divided into independent states referred as poleis. Most of the poleis such as Sparta were oligarchies. For instance, in the government of Sparta, the government structure was divided into the diarchy (the two kings of Sparta), gerousia (Elders), ephors (Citizen Representatives), and apella which represented the Spartan Assembly. The kings of Sparta headed the government and its functions. However, the kings were chosen from separate lines thus creating dual kingship which helped to reduce the power of the executive. The judicial duties of the government were shared between the kings and the gerousia members. The gerousia members served for a lifetime (Saxonhouse, 1996). The apella elected the member of gerousia and either rejected or implemented the proposals from the gerousia members. The ephors served for a year and served to check on actions of the kings and other officials of the government. The Spartan Constitution gave the people the power to criticize the decisions of the kings. Also, it gave them the authority to exile or dispose of the Kings.
Athens
It is considered as the place where democracy began. Athens emerged during the 7th century. The dominance of aristocratic democracy characterized it. The dominance of the aristocratic democracy led to the development of exploitation which resulted in social-ec onomic and political problems. There were also political revolutions at that time which disrupted the traditional aristocracies such as Sparta. However, Lycurgus introduced constitutional reforms in which changed the state of democracy. In Athens, they turned to a mediator, Solon, to integrate the different factions in Athens after the unrest experienced between the rich and the have-nots.
Solon worked towards satisfying the needs of both parties. For instance, he tried alleviating poverty without suppressing all the privileges of the wealthy in the Athenian society. Therefore, Solon divided the Athenians into different property classes. The classes were tasked with different responsibilities and duties (Saxonhouse, 1996). He influenced the formation and composition of functions concerning various governmental bodies. In this system, the citizens were entitled to vote and attend the individuals of the Assembly, Ecclesia. The Assembly, being the sovereign body in Athens, was mandated to pass laws, elect officials, and attend the court appeals regarding important decisions. Solon was instrumental in the development of timocratic and democratic forms of governments in Athens.
Rome
The government structure is also used as a reference for the beginning of democracy. Its governmental system existed before the 4th century. The Roman Constitution outlined the political structure of Sparta that was characterized by the existence of a mixed constitution. For instance, the system was made of the Senate and the Assemblies. Therefore, the Consuls, who headed the government, exercised power over the civil and military decisions(Saxonhouse, 1996). The Senate was mandated with passing decrees which were considered as official advice to the courts.
History of the French Democracy
The French democracy is indicated in three Also stages, the age of Enlightenment, the French Revolution, and the Republic. During the age of enlightenment, there existed the Ideals and affairs of Callas (Thomson, 1964). During this period, the people had the freedom of thought and expressing their opinions regarding the functions of the government. Moreover, Montesquieu claimed the need for the separation of constitutional powers in France. Callas, the French philosopher, advocated for the religion of the state. He belonged to the Protestant faith. He was falsely accused of murdering his son in an attempt to convert to Christianity hence his execution in 1762. In 1763, the judgment imposed against Callas provided the foundation for the creation of the Treaty against Intolerance (Furet, 1995). During this period, the contributions of the French philosopher was based on the principles of denouncing intolerance, the freedom of conscience, the education of the people, and the separation of powers.
The 16th and the 17th century, referred as an intolerance period, were marked by religious. During this time, the freedom of expression of the people was suppressed (Isakhan and Stockwell, 2011). The decisions of the people needed to side with the king. The death of King Louis in the 14th century marked the beginning of philosopher movements which aimed at liberating the thoughts of the French. Therefore, philosophers such as Diderot documented writings in the 18th century which served to enlighten the public (Thompson, 1964). The scholars advocated for the adoption of light to replace obscurantism. They indicated that light aimed at the liberation of people’s thoughts.
Another influential French philosopher, Montesquieu advocated for the separation of powers. According to the philosopher, the separation of authority proved significant in the limitation of injustices. He argued that the possession of the three branches by one person resulted in the creation of a monarchical government. The Athens democracy inspired his ideas.
The revolution helped in transforming the state of democracy in France. For instance, it led to the adoption of an assembly which consisted of elected members and the constitution. The Legislative Assembly implemented laws which aimed at reducing the inequality gap between the members of the three French classes (Wright, 1950). Therefore, the revolution was pivotal in the elimination of aristocratic and monarchical forms of government in France.
The French Revolution
The revolution brought changes in the French society and government. For instance, the revolution lasted between 1789 and 1799. It influenced the state of democracy in the rest of Europe. For example, it led to the introduction of democratic ideals in France. However, the revolution did not make the French nation a democracy. It had great influence in ending the supreme rule imposed by the kings of France (Lefebvre, 1962). Also, it helped in strengthening the French middle class. In Europe, the beginning of the revolution ensured that the privileged groups such as the kings and the nobles could not amass power or use their authority for granted. Therefore, it limited the ignorance of liberty and equality ideals by the privileged societal members.
It began with the financial crisis of the government and quickly transformation to a movement for reforms and change. The example of the events includes the capture Bastille by the Paris crowd. The Bastille was a royal fortress which represented the symbol of oppression. After the occurrence of the incidents, the elected legislatures took over and controlled the government and its activities. The then king, King Louis XVI and Marie Antonette, his wife, were executed (Goodwin, 2016) During the period that was referred as the Reign of Terror, many people in authority were executed. It ended when one of the French generals, Napoleon Bonaparte, took power.
The beginning of the revolution was facilitated by the aspects that comprised of political, economic, and the social factors. Some of the conditions consisting of financial problems resulting from warfare costs, and the dissatisfaction among the social classes of the French such as the lower classes (Carlyle and Belloc, 1962). Furthermore, the development of interests in new ideologies also contributed to the rise of the revolution.
In France, there existed divisions in the practice of law among social classes. The legal divisions caused discontent among the groups. The law divided the French society into groups that consisted of estates. The first estates comprised of the clergy, followed by the nobles and the third estate was made of the rest of people in France. The third estates mostly consisting of the peasants. The income per head of this group was so little that they struggled to feed their families. The third estate also comprised of the working class from the main cities and towns that made up the middle class. They included the officials of government, lawyers, and the merchants. The members of the third estate resented the advantages that were only bestowed on the first and second estate (Goodwin, 2016). For instance, the nobles and the clergy were exempted from paying taxes. Therefore, all the burden of paying taxes and contributing to the revenue of the government was bestowed among the members of the third estate. Also, the members of the middle class faced a problem of social status in that their condition was not recognized regarding their positions in the French society. The status of the middle class was not known because they were members of the third estate.
The monarchy structure of France was also influenced by the development of new ideas concerning the government. Under the monarchical system, the powers and authority of the king were unlimited. The governance of the king was based on the divine right which indicated that the power to rule came from a supreme being, God. The parliamentary aristocrats served to check on the governance of the king. The situation changed during the 1700s (Carlyle and Belloc, 1962). The French Philosophers and writers, who not only came from France but also from other neighboring countries, suggested that the authority to govern the nation was bestowed on the people. Moreover, the financial crisis of France resulted as the country financed the seven-year warfare that lasted between 1756 and 1763. The country also ran into debt due to the costs of funding the American Revolutionary War of 1775 to1783 (Carlyle and Belloc, 1962). The French government went bankrupt by 1788. However, the Paris Government insisted that the King could increase taxes to obtain revenues or increase borrowing by Convening the Estates-General meeting.
The Estates-General comprised of representatives from the three estates. They had met last in 1614. During the meeting, called by the king, the third estate insisted on the merging of the three estates into a national assembly which was in contrast to the demands of the first two estates. For instance, the nobles and the member of the first two states suggested that the matters should be taken separately by the states and hence the voting. Therefore, the third estate representatives established the French National Assembly in 1789 (Lefebvre, 1962). Their declaration was followed by the gathering and pledging at a tennis court which aimed at maintaining their unity until they had drafted the constitution. The vow became to be commonly referred as the Tennis Court Oath. Finally, the king allowed the combination of the three estates to form the National Assembly. However, he began gathering groups with the aim of breaking up the assembly. In the meantime, the French masses took action. For instance, in 1789, Parisians crowds invaded Bastille looking for ammunition and weapons for self-defense against the army of the king (Sonenscher, 2009). During the same time, some Parisian leaders formed a revolutionary city government. Also, the country experienced massive uprisings among the middle class against the nobles. The riots led to the emigration of the liberal groups from France. The uprisings were significant it that they prevented the disbandment of the National Assembly by the King.
Therefore, in August 1789, the French National Assembly developed the August 4 Decrees and peoples’ rights of Declaration. The adoption of the degrees proved essential in the abolishment of feudal dues which the third estate members such as the peasants owed the landlords. It also led to the abolition of the local privileges and tax advantages which were for the nobles and the members of the clergy. The declaration was crucial in that it facilitated the propagation of equal rights to all citizens. The rights encompassed the aspects of security, liberty, oppression resistance, and security (Goodwin, 2016). The events led to the drafting of the constitution which limited the French Monarchical structure thus the establishment of a one-house legislature. It resulted in the division of France into 83 departments which had elected officials in the government. However, the voting rights were still limited to citizens who managed to pay a particular tax amount.
The implementation of the constitution enabled the Assembly to seize the properties owned by the Roman Catholic Church. The Church owned large tracts of land that were sold to the people of the middle class and the French merchants thus raising money that was used to settle part of the country’s debt. Furthermore, it reorganized the Church thus providing a system which required the election of the Church leaders by voting. Also, the Assembly facilitated the closing of the Church convents hence enhancing the expansion of the religious tolerance to groups such as the Jews and the Protestants. It also impacted on the court reforms in France. The changes required the election of the judges to the systems of justice. The Assembly dissolved in September 1791 which marked the end of the revolution (Lefebvre, 1962). Its disbandment was aimed at creating a way for the working of the elected Legislative Assembly which mostly comprised of the middle-class representatives.
However, the new Assembly faced several challenges. For instance, the stability of the government depended on the cooperation of the legislative body and the king. The king was opposed to the idea of the revolution. Therefore, he worked with the aristocrats and other rulers to plot how he would overthrow the newly formed government. The government also faced problems due to the division of public opinion. For example, the followers of the Catholic faith were angered by the religious policies of the revolution. In addition, the other French citizens demanded the imposition of stricter measures against the Revolution opponents. Moreover, it faced challenges concerning foreign threat. For example, France went to war against Austria and Prussia in 1792 (Sonescher, 2009). The two nations advocated for the restoration of the King and energies’ position. Austria and Prussia defeated and invaded the French territory. Due to the developments, the Parisian revolutionaries and other revolutionaries from the regions of France demanded the dethronement of the king.
Therefore, in August 1792, the Parisians captured King Louis XVI together with his family. His removal brought an end to constitutional monarchy in France. After that, the Assembly suggested that the National Convention was to be chosen by all the males aged 21 years and above in France. The government was also under threat since the foreign armies continuously defeated the French armies. The Parisians were also exposed to a danger of an uprising by the ever increasing prison inmates. Therefore, the Parisians decided to execute more than 1000 detainees (Lefebvre, 1962). The massacres enhanced the turning away many proponents of the revolution both in France and the rest of Europe. Eventually, the French armies began winning battles thus driving away the invaders.
The French Revolution had a significant impact in that it brought the France nation into opposition with other countries across Europe. For instance, the monarchy in other countries feared the diffusion of the democratic ideals from France. The Revolution also influenced the French people in that it facilitated the development of extreme disagreements among the people concerning the best system of governance for the country (Goodwin, 2016). It also had a long-lasting effect regarding the foundation of a unified state, and a free society dictated by the dominance of the landowners and the people of the middle class. Also, it provided a foundation for the formation of a strong central government in France.
Democracy as a Universal value and not a Western Product
Democracy is considered as a universal value rather than western products. For instance, the reasons behind the universality of freedom include the mix of culture and other factors like law and leadership (Sen, 1999). The western countries were among the first countries to experience the factions of democracy thus becoming more advanced than other countries. The values are essential in that they promote personal development and ensure the common good of the society.
For example, countries in the Middle East, which form the مساعدة التعيين – خدمة كتابة المقالات من قبل كبار الكتاب العرب, Arab World, have resisted the practice of democracy for centuries (Sen, 1999). Their governance has been characterized by autocracy, cultural, and regional warfare which inhibited the understanding of the democratic values. Therefore, conflict prevented the diffusion of democracy into those regions. Furthermore, the values of democracy are adaptable and not tradable. The leaders in the مساعدة التعيين – خدمة كتابة المقالات من قبل كبار الكتاب العرب, Arab world, مساعدة التعيين – خدمة كتابة المقالات من قبل كبار الكتاب العرب, Arab merchants have prevented the implementation of justice since it would decrease their authority thus rendering inferior to the younger generations.
Also, the African indicates the significance that people require the recognition that the political life is based on community narratives and not rational individualism. Therefore, the surprising capacity of the citizens is based on the possession of a privacy degree and non-domination which enhances their course of action (Sen, 1999). The capacity is also dependent on the ability of democracy to promote flexibility and responsiveness which facilitates accommodation of unpredictable behaviors.
Conclusion
The philosophers played a major role in the advancement of knowledge that helped to explain different phenomena. For instance, it promoted enlightenment in the areas of ethics, religion, politics, and democracy which are fundamental aspects of human life. For example, enlightened led to the development of revolutions in France which aimed at ensuring equality among all people from different classes (Mathis, 1962). Also, the philosophers had an impact in influencing the livelihoods of people by encouraging lives that were dictated by virtues which ensured common good for the whole society. Among the contributions of the philosophers, the development essay writing help of knowledge is considered as the most important. The experience promoted enlightenment which proved significant in facilitating inventions. Studies indicate that the philosophical knowledge played a major role in the development of ideologies among the scientists thus inventions that resulted to industrial revolution across Europe. Also, the nature and existence of democracy are characterized by its universality. The values of democracy can be adopted and practiced as they focus on the promotion of freedom and good governance which does not suppress the rights of the people (Sen, 1999). For instance, the universality of democracy aims at eliminating governance that is either monarchical or aristocratic.

References
Benn, A. W. (1882). The Greek Philosophers (Vol. 1). K. Paul, Trench, & Company.
Carlyle, T., & Belloc, H. (1961). The French Revolution. Dent.
Dray, W. H. (1989). On history and philosophers of history (Vol. 2). Brill.
Furet, F. (1995). Revolutionary France 1770-1880. Wiley-Blackwell.
Goodwin, A. (2016). The French Revolution. Routledge.
Guthrie, W. K. C., & Warren, J. (2012). The Greek Philosophers from Thales to Aristotle. Routledge..
Isakhan, B., & Stockwell, S. (2011). Conclusion: Democratizing the History of Democracy. In The secret history of democracy (pp. 219-224). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Saxonhouse, A. W. (1996). Athenian democracy: Modern mythmakers and ancient theorists. University of Notre Dame Press.
Sonenscher, M. (2009). Before the Deluge: Public Debt, Inequality, and the Intellectual Origins of the French Revolution. Princeton University Press.
Sen, A. K. (1999). Democracy as a universal value. Journal of democracy, 10(3), 3-17.
Thomson, D. (1964). Democracy in France since 1870 (Vol. 194). New York: Oxford University Press.
Kalyvas, S. N. (1996). The rise of Christian democracy in Europe. Cornell University Press.
Kirk, G. S., Raven, J. E., & Schofield, M. (1983). The presocratic philosophers: A critical history with a selcetion of texts. Cambridge University Press.
Keohane, N. O. (1980). Philosophy and the State in France the Renaissance to the Enlightenment.
Lefebvre, G. (1962). The French Revolution (Vol. 1). Columbia University Press.
Warner, R. (1958). The Greek Philosophers.
Wright, G. (1950). The reshaping of French democracy. Methuen

Order | Check Discount

Tags:  Write My Dissertation For Me Online | Help From PhD, Best Dissertation Writing Services in the U.S., Buy essay UK, Custom Dissertation Writing Service: Get Help from Ph.D. essayservice, Essay for sale