The Enlightenment The Enlightenment in the 18 th Century culminated in the movement toward modernity that started in the Renaissance The Enlightenment in the 18 th Century culminated in the movement toward modernity that started in the Renaissance Thinkers of the Enlightenment: Philisophes Thinkers of the Enlightenment: Philisophes Attacked medieval thought Attacked medieval thought Based their understanding of nature and society on reason alone Based their understanding of nature and society on reason alone

The Enlightenment The philosophes articulated basic principles of the modern outlook: The philosophes articulated basic principles of the modern outlook: Confidence in self-sufficiency of the human mind Confidence in self-sufficiency of the human mind Beliefs that individuals possess natural rights that govts should not violate – John Locke Beliefs that individuals possess natural rights that govts should not violate – John Locke Desire to reform society in accordance with rational principles Desire to reform society in accordance with rational principles Impact: American and French Revolutions Impact: American and French Revolutions

The Enlightenment Several traditions flowed into the Enlightenment: Several traditions flowed into the Enlightenment: A. the rational spirit born in classical Greece A. the rational spirit born in classical Greece B. Stoic idea of natural law that applied to all human beings B. Stoic idea of natural law that applied to all human beings C. the Christian belief that all individuals are equal in God’s eyes C. the Christian belief that all individuals are equal in God’s eyes D. Renaissance humanism: focused on the individual and worldly human accomplishments D. Renaissance humanism: focused on the individual and worldly human accomplishments Also grew out of Scientific Revolution Also grew out of Scientific Revolution

The Enlightenment Philosophes praised Newton and the scientific method Philosophes praised Newton and the scientific method They wanted to transfer the scientific method to the realm of society They wanted to transfer the scientific method to the realm of society They wanted to remain independent from clerical authority They wanted to remain independent from clerical authority They believed human beings, through reason, could grasp the natural laws of the social world They believed human beings, through reason, could grasp the natural laws of the social world

The Enlightenment The E in the forms it took in the 18 th c. refers to a stage in the long process of the secularization Western thought since the Middle Ages The E in the forms it took in the 18 th c. refers to a stage in the long process of the secularization Western thought since the Middle Ages Attempts to provide a universal valid approach to learning Attempts to provide a universal valid approach to learning Thus, going against thought rooted in revelation and church tradition Thus, going against thought rooted in revelation and church tradition

The Thinkers – Path to Enlightenment Francis Bacon – philosopher and English govt official Francis Bacon – philosopher and English govt official Novom Organum – rejection of traditional systems of knowledge and reliance on specific sense data Novom Organum – rejection of traditional systems of knowledge and reliance on specific sense data Rene Descartes – French mathematician Rene Descartes – French mathematician Searching for “a universal mathematic that would explain all” Searching for “a universal mathematic that would explain all”

Sir Isaac Newton His significance in Western thought – unlocking the laws of nature His significance in Western thought – unlocking the laws of nature Mathematical Principals of Natural Philosophy 1687 – fixed laws Mathematical Principals of Natural Philosophy 1687 – fixed laws Nature, the great mechanical force of God, could be known without theological authority Nature, the great mechanical force of God, could be known without theological authority

John Locke Reason and the human mind as a self- conscious active force Reason and the human mind as a self- conscious active force Essay Concerning Human Understanding – man’s thoughts were all of result of impressions from the external world Essay Concerning Human Understanding – man’s thoughts were all of result of impressions from the external world Locke and Newton provided the basis for educated Europeans to find a home for issues and ideas Locke and Newton provided the basis for educated Europeans to find a home for issues and ideas

Philosophes Intellectuals of the Enlightenment Intellectuals of the Enlightenment Literary people, professors, journalists, economists, political scientists, and social reformers Literary people, professors, journalists, economists, political scientists, and social reformers Nobility and middle class and a few from lower middle class origins Nobility and middle class and a few from lower middle class origins Most were French Most were French The role of philosophy was to change the world, not discuss it The role of philosophy was to change the world, not discuss it Social Reformers Social Reformers

Montesquieu, Voltaire, Diderot Came from French nobility Came from French nobility The Spirit if the Laws – comparative study of government The Spirit if the Laws – comparative study of government Find natural laws that govern human behavior Find natural laws that govern human behavior 3 types of govts: republics, despotism, monarchy (England, constitutional monarchy) 3 types of govts: republics, despotism, monarchy (England, constitutional monarchy) Check and balances – divided into 3 branches, exec, legis, judicial (no one branch will become too powerful) separation of powers Check and balances – divided into 3 branches, exec, legis, judicial (no one branch will become too powerful) separation of powers - 588

Voltaire Francois Marie Arouet Francois Marie Arouet Comes from middle class Comes from middle class Known for belief in religious toleration Known for belief in religious toleration Treatise on Toleration Treatise on Toleration DEISM – God as the clockmaker who had created the world and set it in motion, and allowed it to run according to natural laws DEISM – God as the clockmaker who had created the world and set it in motion, and allowed it to run according to natural laws Leaving the world to be self-sufficient Leaving the world to be self-sufficient

Diderot Most famous contribution to the E was the Encyclopedia or Classified Dictionary of - the Sciences, Arts, and Trade Most famous contribution to the E was the Encyclopedia or Classified Dictionary of - the Sciences, Arts, and Trade 28 volume collection – father of the ency. 28 volume collection – father of the ency. Purpose – to change the general way of thinking Purpose – to change the general way of thinking (Slavery was denounced) (Slavery was denounced) Spread the ideas of the Enlightenment Spread the ideas of the Enlightenment

Phisiocrats Their efforts laid the foundation for the modern social sciences Their efforts laid the foundation for the modern social sciences Adam Smith – economics – The Wealth of Nations Adam Smith – economics – The Wealth of Nations Three roles of govt – protect the nation, defend citizens, keep up public works Three roles of govt – protect the nation, defend citizens, keep up public works Francois Quenay – laissez faire – hands off Francois Quenay – laissez faire – hands off

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Discourse on the Origins of the Inequality of Mankind and The Social Contract and Emile – social contract Discourse on the Origins of the Inequality of Mankind and The Social Contract and Emile – social contract Emile was condemned as subversive and Rousseau had to flee Paris for Switzerland Emile was condemned as subversive and Rousseau had to flee Paris for Switzerland Govt rules by the will of the people Govt rules by the will of the people Went against Divine Right – social contract Went against Divine Right – social contract

Women Mary Wollstoncraft – Vindication of the Rights of Women – the founder of feminist movement Mary Wollstoncraft – Vindication of the Rights of Women – the founder of feminist movement Published in 1792, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman was the first great feminist treatise. Wollstonecraft preached that intellect will always govern and sought “to persuade women to endeavour to acquire strength, both of mind and body, and to convince them that the soft phrases, susceptibility of heart, delicacy of sentiment, and refinement of taste, are almost synonimous [sic] with epithets of weakness.” Published in 1792, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman was the first great feminist treatise. Wollstonecraft preached that intellect will always govern and sought “to persuade women to endeavour to acquire strength, both of mind and body, and to convince them that the soft phrases, susceptibility of heart, delicacy of sentiment, and refinement of taste, are almost synonimous [sic] with epithets of weakness.” Equal rights in education, economic and political righs Equal rights in education, economic and political righs

Mary Wollstonecraft

The Salons Where the educated elite gathered to spread ideas Where the educated elite gathered to spread ideas Grants women more power politically Grants women more power politically Ex: Marie Therese de Geoffrin Ex: Marie Therese de Geoffrin