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Wordsworth and the Enlightenment Idea of Pleasure: Cambridge Studies in Romanticism

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William Wordsworth, A Romantic Poet Who Was Influenced By The Enlightenment Idea Of Pleasure Wordsworth And The Enlightenment Idea Of Pleasure (Cambridge Studies In Romanticism 95)

Abstract

This article explores the relationship between William Wordsworth and the Enlightenment idea of pleasure. Wordsworth was a Romantic poet who was deeply influenced by the Enlightenment, and his work often reflects the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, nature, and individual experience. However, Wordsworth also critiqued some of the Enlightenment's ideas, particularly its focus on pleasure as the highest good. In this article, I argue that Wordsworth's poetry offers a complex and nuanced understanding of pleasure, one that is both indebted to and critical of the Enlightenment tradition.

Wordsworth and the Enlightenment Idea of Pleasure (Cambridge Studies in Romanticism 95)

Wordsworth and the Enlightenment Idea of Pleasure (Cambridge Studies in Romanticism Book 95)

by Rowan Boyson

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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The Enlightenment was a philosophical movement that flourished in Europe in the 18th century. The Enlightenment thinkers believed that reason and science could be used to improve the human condition. They also believed that pleasure was the highest good, and that individuals should strive to maximize their pleasure.

William Wordsworth was a Romantic poet who was born in 1770. He was deeply influenced by the Enlightenment, and his work often reflects the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, nature, and individual experience. However, Wordsworth also critiqued some of the Enlightenment's ideas, particularly its focus on pleasure as the highest good.

In this article, I will explore the relationship between Wordsworth and the Enlightenment idea of pleasure. I will first discuss the Enlightenment's view of pleasure. I will then discuss Wordsworth's poetry, and how it reflects both the Enlightenment's influence and Wordsworth's own critique of the Enlightenment.

The Enlightenment's View of Pleasure

The Enlightenment thinkers believed that pleasure was the highest good. They argued that individuals should strive to maximize their pleasure, and that the best way to do this was to use reason and science to improve the human condition.

The Enlightenment thinkers also believed that pleasure was a natural right. They argued that all individuals had the right to pursue their own happiness, and that no one should be prevented from ng so.

The Enlightenment's view of pleasure was based on the philosophy of utilitarianism. Utilitarianism is a moral theory that states that the best action is the one that produces the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people. The Enlightenment thinkers believed that maximizing pleasure was the best way to achieve this goal.

Wordsworth's Poetry

Wordsworth's poetry is often characterized by its focus on nature, individual experience, and the imagination. Wordsworth believed that nature was a source of beauty and inspiration, and that individuals could find happiness by communing with nature. He also believed that the imagination was a powerful force that could help individuals to transcend the limitations of their everyday lives.

Wordsworth's poetry is also marked by its use of simple language and everyday speech. Wordsworth believed that poetry should be accessible to everyone, and that it should not be confined to the elite.

In his poetry, Wordsworth often explores the relationship between pleasure and nature. He argues that true pleasure can only be found in nature, and that the pursuit of pleasure for its own sake is ultimately unsatisfying.

Wordsworth also critiques the Enlightenment's focus on reason and science. He argues that reason and science can only provide us with a limited understanding of the world, and that we must also rely on our emotions and our imagination.

Wordsworth's poetry offers a complex and nuanced understanding of pleasure. He is indebted to the Enlightenment tradition, but he also critiques some of its ideas. Wordsworth's poetry suggests that true pleasure can only be found in nature and in the human heart.

Wordsworth and the Enlightenment Idea of Pleasure (Cambridge Studies in Romanticism Book 95)

by Rowan Boyson

5 out of 5