Ryan Friedman, Brandon Needle, Giovanni Alvarado Period 6

Protestant Reformation Corruption of Catholic Church leads to Reformation Corruption of Catholic Church leads to Reformation Martin Luther (95 Theses) criticized Church for selling of indulgences Martin Luther (95 Theses) criticized Church for selling of indulgences People began to doubt their own religion and become SKEPTICAL of their faith People began to doubt their own religion and become SKEPTICAL of their faith Leads to more SECULAR thought Leads to more SECULAR thought

Scientific Revolution SECULARISM = thought about material world, as opposed to spiritual world Scientists begin to ask WHY and HOW things are the way they are and began to use the EXPERIMENTAL METHOD of Galileo to test hypotheses Church-accepted theories of Ptolemy and Aristotle were disproved by scientists of 16th century

More influence of Scientific Revolution “was the single most important factor in the creation of the new world-view of the eighteenth-century ENLIGHTENMENT” “was the single most important factor in the creation of the new world-view of the eighteenth-century ENLIGHTENMENT” Beginnings of scientific communities Beginnings of scientific communities highly intellectual individuals were awarded for achievement highly intellectual individuals were awarded for achievement Created competition as more revolution was inevitable Created competition as more revolution was inevitable

Enlightenment thought Attack on traditional beliefs to understand all aspects of life; nothing was to be acquired by faith (REASON) Attack on traditional beliefs to understand all aspects of life; nothing was to be acquired by faith (REASON) Everything was to be acquired by rational, critical, scientific way of thinking (RATIONALISM) Everything was to be acquired by rational, critical, scientific way of thinking (RATIONALISM) Belief in PROGRESS= improving modern day economy & society by way of reason, rationalism, and scientific methods Belief in PROGRESS= improving modern day economy & society by way of reason, rationalism, and scientific methods

More ISMS of Enlightened thinkers SKEPTICISM = questioning concrete beliefs and challenging them SKEPTICISM = questioning concrete beliefs and challenging them INDIVIDUALISM (first coined in Renaissance) places influence on ability of individual to perform at highest potential INDIVIDUALISM (first coined in Renaissance) places influence on ability of individual to perform at highest potential ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM is the idea of governing in an enlightened manner ENLIGHTENED ABSOLUTISM is the idea of governing in an enlightened manner

Bernard de Fontenelle ( ) Conversations on the Plurality of Worlds(1686) encourages individualism & and mind’s capability for progress Perhaps the most influential “popularizer” of Enlightened thought in France Works were made to make science easy

Fontenelle Brought science into conflict with religion Skeptical about absolute truth & cynical about religion Eulogies of Scientists = rational progressive scientists vs. prejudiced, reactionary priests Questioning of religious truth

Pierre Bayle ( ) Most influential SKEPTIC thinker French Huguenot who took advantage of religious toleration Dictionary = nothing can every be known beyond a doubt Cultural & world wide differences of beliefs lead to more skepticism

John Locke Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) theory that human beings learn and form own ideas Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690) theory that human beings learn and form own ideas All ideas come from experience All ideas come from experience Tabula rasa = human mind is blank slate when it is born & acquires knowledge from environment Tabula rasa = human mind is blank slate when it is born & acquires knowledge from environment Human development is determined by education & social institutions Human development is determined by education & social institutions

John Locke

France and the “philisophe” Enlightenment’s most influential individuals were the philisophes ( French word for philosopher) Enlightenment’s most influential individuals were the philisophes ( French word for philosopher) French = international language of educated & upper class French = international language of educated & upper class Death of Louis XIV = philisophe critics of religious orthodoxy Death of Louis XIV = philisophe critics of religious orthodoxy Joined to form enlightened public, known as the public Joined to form enlightened public, known as the public

Baron de Montesquieu ( )  Began the manner in which philisophes criticized religion & government, as it was illegal to do openly  Persian Letters were accounts of Persian travelers who criticized government & therefore Montesquieu was able to get away with it

Montesquieu  Spirit of Laws argued for separation of powers of political power held by variety of classes  Believed this would get rid of despotism  Separation of powers had influence on French elite & later constitutions of U.S. in 1789 & France in 1791

Francois Marie Arouet (Voltaire) Most influential philisophe Wrote many enlightened articles that he got arrested for time and time again Middle-class man with great influence from Isaac Newton Believed in God the “Clockmaker” (DEISM) who built an orderly universe and stepped aside to let it run

Voltaire Challenger of the Church and Christian theology at every point Challenger of the Church and Christian theology at every point Despised intolerance because he believed it led to inhumane action Despised intolerance because he believed it led to inhumane action “love God and your neighbor as yourself” in famous essay on religion “love God and your neighbor as yourself” in famous essay on religion

Diderot and D’Alembert ( ) ► Dictionary of Sciences rapidly expanding and progressive human knowledge ► Encyclopedia; they wanted to “change the general way of thinking” ► Process of reasoning was the best way to expand human knowledge ► writings summed up the new world view of the Enlightenment

Diderot and the Encyclopedia

D’Holbach ( ) System of Nature argued that human beings were machines completely determined by outside forces System of Nature argued that human beings were machines completely determined by outside forces Believed free will, God, and immortality were foolish myths Believed free will, God, and immortality were foolish myths Writings were not good for Enlightenment but showed some opposition Writings were not good for Enlightenment but showed some opposition

Rousseau ( )  Social Contract believed strongly in individual freedom  But argued that rationalism and salons were destroying the individual  Influenced the early rebellious romantic movement  Believed in “general will” of the people, but needed more uniform

Salons Elegant private drawing rooms in which the upper class exchanged scientific and political ideas Elegant private drawing rooms in which the upper class exchanged scientific and political ideas Madame Geoffrin was the owner of one of the most famous salons Madame Geoffrin was the owner of one of the most famous salons She did not tolerate attacks on the church She did not tolerate attacks on the church Saved the Encyclopedia from collapse Saved the Encyclopedia from collapse

Salons Madame Geoffrin

Overall Influence of the Enlightenment New monarchies acted on principles of the Enlightenment, or so they claimed New monarchies acted on principles of the Enlightenment, or so they claimed Frederick the Great = greatest example of an Enlightened absolutist leader Frederick the Great = greatest example of an Enlightened absolutist leader Led to rising power of Parliament for the people in France Led to rising power of Parliament for the people in France Encouraged Enlightened thought was the greatest achievement of Enlightened absolutists Encouraged Enlightened thought was the greatest achievement of Enlightened absolutists

Enlightenment Ultimately it led to a new world view in which individuals were willing to question their beliefs in religion and expand their minds through progress and education Ultimately it led to a new world view in which individuals were willing to question their beliefs in religion and expand their minds through progress and education Views of Enlightened thinkers such as Locke and Rousseau had great influence in Constitutional monarchies and democracies Views of Enlightened thinkers such as Locke and Rousseau had great influence in Constitutional monarchies and democracies Called the “Enlightenment” because of Enlightened thinkers who were fascinated with the ability of the individual to challenge himself and to provide explanations and views for himself, as opposed to depending on other sources such as religion and the bible Called the “Enlightenment” because of Enlightened thinkers who were fascinated with the ability of the individual to challenge himself and to provide explanations and views for himself, as opposed to depending on other sources such as religion and the bible

Bibliography Mckay; Hill; Butler. A History of Western Society Since

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