The Age of Enlightenment aka The Age of Reason 18 th Century Thought

Age of Reason aka the Enlightenment 1700s Truth via rational & logical thought! Everything in the universe can be explained! Spread ideas via coffeehouses, salons, secret clubs, published writings… Public Opinion thru common knowledge

The Royal Academy of Sciences, Paris

Zoology & Biology A dissection at the Royal Academy, London.

Centers of the Enlightenment

The Philosophers People who favored change, championed reform, and advocated toleration Could be found at universities and coffee houses Were usually for; expansion of trade, improvement of agriculture and transportation, invention of new manufacturing industries

Voltaire Imprisoned at the Bastille for offending the French Went into exile in England Published works – 1733 – Letters on the English – praised the British for their freedoms especially of religion and criticized the French – 1738 – Elements of the Philosophy of Newton – popularized the theories of Newton after his death – 1759 – Candide – satire attacking war, religious persecution and unwarranted optimism about the human condition

Marquis de Condorcet ( ) ► Progress of the Human Mind, 1794  An expectation of universal happiness.  Every individual guided by reason could enjoy true independence.  He advocated a free and equal education, constitutionalism, and equal rights for women.

Immanuel Kant ( ) ► Critique of Pure Reason, 1781 ► “What is Enlightenment?”, 1784 ► Metaphysical Foundations of Natural Science, 1786

Kant’s Philosophy ► Dare to Know! ► He introduced the concept of transcendentalism  some things are known by methods other than empirically.  The belief in the existence of a non-rational way to understand things.  The existence of neither time nor space is determined by empirical understanding.  These type of things are a priori.  They transcend sensory experience.  They are pure, not empirical [ [concepts like faith, pre- existence, life after death ].

WFWFrench Aristocrat Wanted to establish a constitutional Monarchy in France Wrote the book - The Spirit of the Laws in 1748

$Separation of Powers - 3 Branches of Gov’t $Executive $Legislative $Judicial $Checks and Balances $each checks the power of the other $Power shouldn’t rest in one person

David Hume ( ) ► The Natural History of Religion (1755). ► Belief in God rested on superstition and fear rather than on reason.

W“W“man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains.” WSWSocial Contract W“W“THE SOCIAL CONTRACT” WpWpeople entered into a social among themselves WsWsurrender all their rights to the community

WGWGeneral Will WtWthe will of the majority WGWGovernment is a necessary evil WiWif it does not carry out the General will the people can overthrow it WPWPopular Sovereignty WuWultimate sovereignty resides in the people

WHighly Educated The Encyclopedia” WEditor of “The Encyclopedia” Wvirtually all important French philosophes contributed

Diderot’s Encyclopédie ► 28 volumes. ► Alphabetical, cross- referenced, illustrated. ► First published in ► 1500 livres a set.

Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedie

Subscriptions to Diderot’s Encyclopedie

Women played an important role WRWRich women held gatherings in their drawing rooms, or salons Writers, musicians, painters, and philosophes exchanged ideas

Madame Geoffrin’s Salon

The Salonnieres Madame Geoffrin ( ) Mademoiselle Julie de Lespinasse (1732*-1776) Madame Suzanne Necker ( )

The Enlightenment and Religion The Enlightenment challenged the church and its concepts of “original sin”. The church was not just challenged for its thoughts, but for its practices – Not paying taxes – Being rulers and religious leaders – Literary censorship

Reading During the Enlightenment ► Literacy :  80% for men; 60% women. ► Books were expensive (one day’s wages). ► Many readers for each book (20 : 1)  novels, plays & other literature.  journals, memoirs, “private lives.”  philosophy, history, theology.  newspapers, political pamphlets.

An Increase in Reading