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Zorluk: OrtaEnlightenment Thought and Social Contract Theories

"Either no individual of the human race has genuine rights, or else all have the same; and he who votes against the right of another, whatever the religion, color, or sex of that other, has from that moment abjured his own... For example, have they not all violated the principle of equality of rights in quietly depriving half of the human race of the right of taking part in the formation of laws, by excluding women from the rights of citizenship?"

— Marquis de Condorcet, French philosopher, *On the Admission of Women to the Rights of Citizenship*, 1790

Which of the following best explains how the ideas in the passage represent a challenge to the political status quo of the late eighteenth century?

  1. A
    They claimed that political rights should be restricted to merchants who contributed directly to the state's accumulation of bullion under mercantilist policies.
  2. B
    They argued that the French Revolution should prioritize national stability over individual liberty, matching the successful approach of the American Revolution.
  3. They highlighted the contradiction between the universalist rhetoric of natural rights and the political exclusion of women.Cevap
  4. D
    They asserted that biological differences between genders naturally dictate separate political spheres, applying scientific natural selection to society.

Cevap

The ideas in the passage represent a challenge to the political status quo by highlighting the contradiction between the universalist rhetoric of natural rights and the political exclusion of women.
The correct answer is correct because Condorcet directly applies the Enlightenment language of natural rights ('equality of rights') to argue that excluding women from citizenship is a violation of these core principles, thereby challenging the limits of the revolutionary political status quo.

Adım Adım Çözüm

1
Analyze the stimulus to identify the author's primary argument.
The author argues that depriving women of the right to participate in making laws is a direct violation of the principle of equal rights.
Understanding the core argument is necessary to connect it to the broader historical context of the Enlightenment.
2
Evaluate the historical context of natural rights and social contract theories during the Atlantic Revolutions.
While revolutionary movements championed natural rights, in practice they often limited political participation based on gender, class, and race.
This context clarifies the contradiction the author points out between Enlightenment ideals and political reality.
3
Identify the option that matches the author's challenge to the exclusion of women.
The correct option correctly states that the passage exposes the contradiction between universalist rights rhetoric and gender-based political exclusion.
This aligns with Condorcet's critique of the National Assembly's actions.

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Enlightenment Thought and Social Contract Theories
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