Why did Blake criticize Voltaire and Rousseau? (MEG 102) (UNIT 12 WILLIAM BLAKE )

William Blake, the English poet and artist, was a critic of both Voltaire and Rousseau, two prominent Enlightenment thinkers who had a profound influence on eighteenth-century European thought. There were several reasons for Blake's criticism of these two philosophers:

Blake criticized Voltaire's skepticism and his rejection of religion. Blake was a deeply religious man, and he believed that faith and spirituality were essential components of human life. He saw Voltaire's skepticism as a threat to traditional religious beliefs and criticized him for his rejection of Christianity and his advocacy for reason as the sole source of knowledge.

Blake also criticized Rousseau's emphasis on individualism and his belief in the natural goodness of humanity. Blake saw Rousseau's ideas as leading to the selfishness and materialism that characterized modern society. He believed that Rousseau's ideas were a threat to the traditional values of community and shared responsibility.

Another reason for Blake's criticism of these philosophers was their emphasis on reason and their rejection of imagination. Blake saw the imagination as a key component of creativity and artistic expression, and he believed that reason alone was not sufficient to understand the complexities of human life.

In general, Blake's criticism of Voltaire and Rousseau was rooted in his belief that their ideas were a threat to traditional religious and moral values, and that they failed to understand the importance of the imagination and spirituality in human life.