10396878 9/17/2013 Word Count: 1,540

The Eighteenth-Century Ger !n "o eto#n: En$ightened !nd Ch!$$enged

% ti e o& en$ighten ent, no +h!$$enge the e,i'ting 'y'te

!tter #here it' ide!$' or thin(ing #!' )eing '*re!d, +! e to o't +h!$$enged

in the "o$y -o !n E *ire. /o #here #!' thi'

th!n in the e't!te' th!t re'ided in Ger !ny during the eighteen +entury. 0n German Home Towns: Community, State, and General Estates 1648-1871 )y 1!+( W!$(er, W!$(er goe' into det!i$ !nd !(ing +$!i th!t the 'trengthen o& the "o$y -o !n E *ire !$$o#ed &or no e,tern!$ or intern!$

ene ie' to )re!(, or +h!nge the e,i'ting 'y'te . 1!int!ining the 't!tu' 2uo )e+o e' ! the e throughout the Ger !n $!nd, e'*e+i!$$y in the ho eto#n. %' en$ighten ent thought !nd re!'on '*re!d' thi' thre!ten' !nd di'ru*t' the 't!tu' 2uo o& $i&e in the ho eto#n. The en$ighten ent !)'o$ute$y +h!$$enged the eighteenth +entury Ger !ny in it' e,i'ting +ondition, the *$!+e one h!' in their o#n 'o+iety, !nd the &un+tion o& the 'o+iety.

The +ondition o& e3ery !'*e+t o& 'o+iety in Ger !ny #!' he$d in ! +ondition in #hi+h it +ou$d not o3erturn the +urrent 'y'te th!t e,i'ted. 4The re$i!n+e o& the 'y'te $!y in it' +!*!+ity

to ho$d 't!te *o#er )e$o# the thre'ho$d #here the 'y'te ho$ding the 't!te *o#er to ! $o#er $e3e$, the 'y'te The the e o&

!y )e o3erturned.4 5W!$(er 136 7y

i' e$i in!ting !d3!n+e ent to the 't!te it'e$&.

!int!ining the 't!tu' 2uo i' e3er 'o *re'ent in Ger !n 'o+iety. /!*o$eon

7on!*!rte i' $oo(ed !t !' !n e,! *$e o& #h!t h!**en' #hen the +he+(' !nd )!$!n+e o& *o#er !re de3!'t!ted !nd +! e !' ! re inder to Ger !n +o unitie' th!t #ithout !int!ining the 't!tu'

2uo #ou$d

e!n in't!)i$ity. To

!int!in thi' 't!tu' 2uo, the e *eror #ou$d deter !ny !nd !$$

!'*ir!tion', there&ore h!3ing tot!$ +ontro$ o3er it' 'u)8e+t'. En$ighten thin(er' #ou$d +h!$$enge thi' )y +$!i ing i& there i' no +h!$$enge to the +urrent 'y'te !d3!n+e ent !nd *rogre''. 49ne ho# !n unen$ightened 'y'te then there #i$$ ne3er )e !nue$ :!nt #hen de'+ri)ing

u't o)ey.4 ! *hr!'e u'ed )y 0

#ou$d e,*e+t it' 'u)8e+t' to )eh!3e.

Where the en$ighten ent +h!$$enged Ger !ny 'o+iety the

o't #!' in the ho eto#n.

The ho eto#n #!' neither ! +ity nor 3i$$!ge. The ho eto#n #!' 3ery 'e$&-'u&&i+ient. 1o't *rodu+tion o& good' !nd tr!ding too( *$!+e #ithin the ho eto#n !r(et !nd e+ono y. The 't!)i$ity !' #e$$. Too !ny !r(et to *re'er3e ! 't!)i$ity

e )er'hi* #ithin the ho eto#n' #!' (e*t to ! +ert!in 'i;e to +re!te e )er' in ! +o unity #i$$ +re!te +on&$i+t !nd not h!3ing enough unity. 4<!nd th!t inter edi!te 'i;e g!3e the !

+!n thre!ten the 'ur3i3!$ o& ! de*endent +o

di'tin+ti3e +i3i+ +h!r!+ter o& re !r(!)$e intern!$ 'trength !nd re'i$ien+y.4 5W!$(er 276 The ho eto#n #!' 3ery i'o$!ted &ro o't$y +on+erned #ith (ee*ing in'ider' in, !nd out'ider' out. The ho eto#n #!' Ger !n=' in the +ountry'ide !nd !$'o &ro tho'e in the +ity. /on-+iti;en' #ere

$i(e +!n+er +e$$' th!t #ou$d thre!ten their #!y o& $i&e. When ! 'o+iety $i(e thi' i'o$!te' the 'e$3e' &ro !$$ other' out'ide their #!$$', they !re +utting o&& en$ighten ent o3e ent'

'u+h !' the '*re!d o& ne# (no#$edge, ide!', !nd *hi$o'o*hie'. 49ne #!' the e,*!n'ion o& the re!ding *u)$i+,4 57$!+()ourn 266 re&erring to the '*re!d o& en$ightened thin(ing. Whi$e the'e ne# ide!' #ere '*re!ding, dee*ening the +o o**ortunity o& en$ighten ent o&& in order to ho eto#n $i&e. The En$ighten ent +h!$$enged the e )er' 't!tu' in the ho eto#n during the uni+!tion +h!nne$', ho eto#n' +ut thi' !int!in 't!)i$ity !nd the 't!tu' 2uo th!t do in!ted

eighteen-+entury. The e,i'ting 'y'te #!' ! 'y'te th!t too( !$$ *o''i)$e

in the Ger !n ho eto#n during the eighteenth +entury e!'ure' to 't!y 'e*!r!te &ro the other e't!te' th!t e,i'ted in

Ger !ny. Thi' (e*t the Ger !n ho eto#n out o& ! +!tegory in Ger !n 'o+iety. 0n thi' 'o+iety the ide! o& !n indi3idu!$ #!' none,i'tent. The ho eto#n' en #!' ! +iti;en, o't $i(e$y )e+!u'e

he or 'he #!' )orn there, ! #or(er, !nd ! neigh)or. The ho eto#n #!' e+ono i+!$$y 'u't!ined )y ! ono*o$i;ed gui$d. The ho eto#n #!' 'et u* to +re!te ! edi!n ! ong't it' e )er' !nd

!nyone #ho #!nted to )e+o e ! )itiou' enough to )e+o e

ore indi3idu!$i'ti+ in their

thin(ing #!' going !g!in't the 't!tu' 2uo !nd di'ru*ting the 't!)i$ity #ithin the ho eto#n. 4>er'on!$ ! )ition hurt the 't!)i$ity o& ho eto#n $i&e, !nd 'o the ho e to#n 'u**re''ed, e,+$uded !nd e,*e$$ed it.4 5W!$(er 1336 The ! )itiou' e )er o& the ho eto#n #ou$d +re!te

ine2u!$ity #ithin the ho eto#n !nd there&ore thre!ten the 't!)i$ity o& the ho eto#n. %n en$ightened thin(er #ou$d di'!gree #ith thi' !nd +h!$$enge ! 'o+iety th!t doe' not en+our!ge *er'on!$ ! )ition !nd en+our!ge the de'tiny in !$$ o& !n, en. 40n the %)'en+e o& the e''enti!$ de'tiny

!n 'in(' to the $e3e$ o& the )e!'t? #ithout the une''enti!$ de'tiny he i' no $onger good

!nd '*$endid !' ! +re!ture.4 51ende$''ohn 556 The ho eto#n #!' de'ign to not )e ! *$!+e o& un$i ited o**ortunity to it' )ut r!ther ! 'y'te th!t h!' e2u!$ 'u)8e+tion. The gui$d 'y'te e )er'

th!t e,i'ted did not to$er!te r!*id

'hi&t in e,*!n'ion or in+re!'ed *ro&iting &or *er'on!$ g!in. The'e (ind' o& $i it', $i(e the $i it' the gui$d' *ut onto the 'e$3e', #ere the '! e $i it' th!t e3ery)ody #ithin the ho eto#n 'et !nd honored &or the 'e$3e' !' ! +ontri)uting e2u!$ity !nd ho eto#n de o+r!+y e )er o& their ho eto#n. 47ut the ho eto#n unity to edi!n #ithin

e!nt 'u)8e+tion o& e3eryd!y in the +o unity.4 5W!$(er 1346 To

e3ery)ody, to $i it' 'et )y the #ho$e +o

!int!in the

the #!$$' o& the ho eto#n the ty*e o& +$othing

e )er' or non e )er' #ore +ou$d h!3e +!u'ed

8e!$ou'$y !nd h!tred. The +$othing

e )er' #ore

!y !+t !' ! 'y )o$ o& r!n( #ithin the

ho eto#n !nd !' ! re'u$t di'ru*ting the $!+( o& &reedo !round the

edi!n. To the en$ightened thin(er, thi' i' ! +o *$ete to )e !)$e to 2ue'tion #h!t i' going on

to the indi3idu!$. % $!+( o& &reedo

!' !n indi3idu!$ r!ther th!n o)eying !' ! +iti;en in'ide the i'o$!ted #!$$' o& ! ore i *ort!nt i' re2uired th!n u't !gree, o)ey, !nd not 2ue'tion. There i'

ho eto#n. 4@or the En$ighten ent, ho#e3er, nothing freedom4 5:!nt 596 0n the ho eto#n the no u'e o& re!'on or (no#$edge to !int!ined !t ! e )er

!(e 'en'e or 2ue'tion the +on't!nt 't!te o& ! 'o+iety )eing

edi!n. Thi' $e!d' to no *rogre'' to the indi3idu!$ or o& the 'o+iety th!t the

indi3idu!$ e,i't' in. The ho eto#n i' !n in3i'i)$e h!nd th!t e,er+i'e' ! gre!t de!$ o& +ontro$ !nd di+t!tion o3er the 't!tu' o& the e )er' #ithin the ho eto#n. The en$ighten ent not on$y +h!$$enge' the

*$!+e one h!d in 'o+iety )ut !$'o the &un+tion o& ! 'o+iety. The ho eto#n de'igned it'e$& 'o th!t their #!' no or 3ery $i ited *o$iti+!$ or e+ono i+ *re''ure' &ro the out'ide o& their #!$$'. Their

#!' no 'ur*$u' to e,*ort good' #hi+h #!' *ur*o'e$y de'igned to h!3e e3erything *ro3ided )y the ho eto#n &or it' e )er'. Thi' !$$o#ed there to )e 3ery $itt$e e,+h!nge #ith !ny out'ider'. !r(et !t ! ho eto#n, the

0& out'ider', 'u+h !' *e!'!nt', #ere !$$o#ed to tr!de or 'e$$ in the gui$d #ou$d on$y !$$o# it to ! *oint to !int!in ! *ro&it

!rgin. The gui$d' did thi' 'o the gui$d' !int!ined the 't!)i$ity o& the !'ter'

ono*o$y #ou$d not )e +h!$$enged !nd )y doing thi' the gui$d' ho eto#n

!r(et. Gui$d !rti'!n' )eg!n to &ee$ *re''ure !nd &ri+tion !' the 'on' o& $!nd

#ou$d 'ett$e !t ne!r )y 3i$$!ge' !' +r!&t' !n. 7y doing 'o, thi' #ou$d thre!ten the gui$d' ho eto#n ono*o$y. The'e +r!&t' !n #ere !)$e to 'ee( 't!te *rote+tion due to there 't!tu'

#ithin the 't!te. Thi' +re!ted ! higher $e3e$ o& ne!r)y +o *etition &or the ho eto#n gui$d' !nd in 'o e +!'e' !de ho eto#n gui$d' $o'e *ro&it'. The'e no)e$ +r!&t' !n #ere &e!red )e+!u'e

in'te!d o& #or(ing &or their ho eto#n they !re #or(ing &or ! $ord, gi3ing the o3er the $!nd. The'e no)$e' +ou$d

*o$iti+!$ *o#er

!(e u* ! gre!ter ! ount o& the $o+!$ e+ono y th!n th!t o& the

ho eto#n gui$d, thre!tening hi' 'ur3i3!$. En$ighten thin(er' #ou$d +h!$$enged thi' &e!r o& +o *etition gui$d' h!d to#!rd' 't!te +r!&t' !n 'ett$ing ne!r their ho eto#n. 0& their i' no out'ide &or+e or entity *u'hing the +urrent 't!te o& e2ui$i)riu ho# i' *rogre'' e,*e+ted or the +r!&t' !n *er&e+t' hi' +r!&tA When ! e )er 'hou$d )e en+our!ged to g!in ore (no#$edge

+o *etitor +h!$$enge' your 'ur3i3!$, the o& hi' +r!&t !nd the

!nu&!+turing o& hi' +r!&t. Thi' i' ho# *rogre''ion in ! 'o+iety o++ur'. u+h

"o# the ho eto#n in Ger !ny #!' de'igned !nd ho# it e,i'ted #ent 3ery

!g!in't #h!t the en$ightened thin(er' o& the eighteenth +entury thought. "o eto#n' i'o$!ted their 'o+iety &ro re!'on. The out'ider' !nd )y doing 'o +utting o&& the &$o# o& en$ightened (no#$edge !nd

e )er o& the ho eto#n #ere not to )e+o e ! )itiou' !' thi' #ou$d thre!ten the unity, thi'

't!)i$ity o& the the ho eto#n. 7y +ru'hing the ! )ition o& *rogre'' #ithin the +o

'tri*' !#!y the o**ortunity to *rogre'' !' !n indi3idu!$ !nd !$$o#ing no +h!nne$ to *ur'ue their de'tiny. The ty*e o& +$othing +ou$d thro# o&& the edi!n th!t #!' 'o #e$$ *rote+ted. 1e )er' o& unity )ut not e2u!$ity to o**ortunity Thi' ore i *ort!nt to en$ightened thin(er'. in the

the ho eto#n h!3e e2u!$ity o& 'u)8e+tion to the +o i' t!(ing !#!y the &reedo o& the indi3idu!$ #hi+h i'

En$ighten ent in Ger !ny o& the eighteenth +entury +h!$$enged the e,i'ting 'y'te ho eto#n'.

7i)$iogr!*hy W!$(er, 1!+(. German Home Towns: Community, State, and General Estate, 1648-1871 0th!+!: Corne$$ B>, 1971. >rint. 7$!+()ourn, C!3id, !nd C!3id 7$!+()ourn. History of Germany, 178!-1"18: T#e $on% &ineteent# Century. 1!$den, 1%: 7$!+(#e$$ >u)., 2003. >rint. 0 !nue$ :!nt. Edited )y: D+h idt, E! e'. '#at (s Enli%#tenment): Ei%#teent#-*entury +nswers and Twentiet#-*entury ,uestions. 7er(e$ey: Bni3er'ity o& C!$i&orni!, 1996. >rint. 1o'e' 1ende$''ohn. Edited )y: D+h idt, E! e'. '#at (s Enli%#tenment): Ei%#teent#-*entury +nswers and Twentiet#-*entury ,uestions. 7er(e$ey: Bni3er'ity o& C!$i&orni!, 1996. >rint.