Reason, Satire And Social Order: The Philosophial Foundations Of Enlightenment Literature In England

Abstract

This study investigates the philosophical roots of English Enlightenment literature, highlighting the interaction of reason, satire, and social order. It explores how writers such as Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, Samuel Johnson, and Henry Fielding used rational inquiry and satirical techniques to challenge social, political, and moral norms. The findings suggest that Enlightenment literature served as a tool for promoting rational thinking, moral reflection, and critical examination of hierarchical structures. By situating literary texts within their historical and philosophical contexts, this research demonstrates how rationalist ideals shaped literary style and social critique in eighteenth-century, social  critique, literary analysis.