ENGL 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Classical Antiquity, Oxymoron, Chiasmus
16 Nov 2016
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Period of optimism following two centuries of wars of religion. Focus on tradition seen as breaks in progress, humanism would be what allows us to progress. Faith in reason to make process humanity"s religious, political, and ethical life. Alexander pope"s essay on man uses reason to explain man"s experience of evil and to establish a universal norm of behaviour. While milton"s description of experience are theological ( all god"s plan ), pope appeals to philosophy. Founded on optimistic premise: whatever is, is right . Pope invites addressee - henry st. john, lord bolingbroke -- to contemplate philosophy, since life can little more supply/ than just to look about us and to die . Pope was catholic and excluded from public office and university, all forms of public office and service were forbidden to him. Philosophy was not separate from politics at this time.
