The Enlightenment Religion and Society

I. What was the “Enlightenment”? NO notes – Discussion Only 1.Definition 2.Progressive movement 3.Elements and Characteristics a) change & reform is possible & desirable b) based on REASON c) Critical of social & political institutions of the “Old Regime” d) Individual Rights 4. Danger vs. Liberation

II. Formative influences of the Enlightenment 1.Scientific Revolution a) 2.Locke (tabula rasa = blank slate) a) b)

3.Gr. Britain’s influence a) b) c) d) Britain HAD 1)2) 3)4) 5)6) 7)

4.Need for reform in France a) b) c) d) 5.Emergence of a “Print Culture” a) b) c)

III. Who were the philosophes? 1.Who were they? a) b) c) d) 2.Who read their work? a) 3. What bonded these philosophes together? a) b) c) 4. Encyclopedia?

IV. Enlightenment & Religion

V. Responses of the philosophes to religion 1.Tolerance (least radical) 2.Deism (more radical) 3.Criticism & Atheism (most radical)

VI. Society (Although the philosophes wrote much on religion – humanity was the center of their interest) 1.Laws and Prison (Cesare Beccaria) 2.Economic Freedom a) physiocrats

3.Adam Smith (The Wealth of Nations) a) econ freedom is foundation of b) against c) sustained growth & laissez faire d) based on his 3 “natural laws” of economics: 1. Law of self-interest 2. Law of competition 3. Law of supply & demand

e) Smith’s “Wealth of Nations” and his 4- stage theory Imperialism?

3. Adam Smith

VII. Full Religious Toleration 1.Some enlightened thinkers advocated toleration of 2.Argued they deserved 3.18 th c. = a new acceptance of Jews, but 4. Diderot said Jews had

VIII. Slavery 1.Society of the Friends of the Blacks 2.Slave rebellions in French colony Saint- Dominigue (Haiti) a. Goal b. Toussaint L’Ouverature c – Napoleon d. In 1804