Age of Reason

1650-1780
A movement emphasizes reason
and individualsim
Features

•1)Use of reason: logical

thoughts above everything
•2)Skepticism: to doubt the truth
of everything, people do not
take things as they are
•3) Satire: Social commentary, writers used
exaggeration and irony to comment on
issues
•4)The belief that human are good by nature;
for instance, Jean-Jacques Rousseau: a
Genevan philosopher who has this belief
 A Modest Proposal
• A Modest Proposal is a satirical essay written in 1729 by Jonathan Swift. The
basic premise of the essay is that Ireland’s poverty could be alleviated by
selling their children as food for rich gentlemen and ladies, noting “it would
provide some small relief to your excellency’s treasury, and enable you to make
a suitable provision for the support of your Majesty’s ancient and faithful
subjects.” Swift suggests that this would be a cost-effective method to reduce
poverty without any need for more Irish to emigrate.
• In A Modest Proposal, Swift does not actually suggest eating children but
instead using them as workers in the family home. He claims he has already
convinced many to adopt this measure, and “a man of three thousand pounds
a year would be as well provided for, with eight children, as is now the person
who has twice that estate without any.”