A Comparison of the Enlightenment, Romantic, and Post-Romantic Periods
In this paper we will discuss some of the important ideas and philosophers of the Enlightenment, Romantic, Post-Romantic Periods. While doing this we will attempt to answer two sets of important questions. The first set of question deals with the nature of post romantic thought. Was Post Romantic thought a reaction against or a continuation of Romanticism? Could we go further and say that Post Romanticism reconciles the ideals of the Enlightenment and Romantic Periods? We will take a look at Marx and Darwin, among others, as a way to answer this question. The second set of questions will explore the Enlightenment Period. Through looking at Hagel and Descartes, we will discuss the transitions from the Enlightenment to the Romantic period and try to answer the question how does Romantic writing become a dialogue against Enlightenment thinking?
