The Enlightenment

What was it? An 18th century intellectual movement Came about thanks to the scientific revolution Influenced people that contributed to the American and French Revolutions, and modern ways of thinking

Inspiration Medieval times only cared about sin and salvation Renaissance emphasized worldly matters, but looked to the wisdom of the past Enlightenment thinkers focused on the future and progress

Reason Secular idea Nothing should be accepted on faith Everything should be submitted to critical examination

Idea of Truth Growing travel and literature caused uncertainty Europeans noticed how people from China, India, and Africa had their own beliefs Changed their perspectives Truth is relative, not absolute

Social Science The scientific method can discover the human laws of society, not just nature Aspects like class, groupings, and society can now be studied Gave birth to social science

Progress The goal is to create better societies and better people Disregard old traditions and beliefs Embrace rationalism Improved economic and social life in the 1700’s

Anti-Religion Scientific revolution drew antireligious implications Was ideology and conformity really necessary? Could religious truth ever be known with absolute certainty? For both questions, they found no to be the answer

Pierre Bayle Critically examined past religious beliefs and persecutions Concluded nothing could be known beyond all doubt Created skepticism

John Locke Discussed how humans learns Humans are like a blank tablet at birth So, every person has the equal right to happiness and liberty Influenced our Founding Fathers

Montesquieu Focused the ideas of the enlightenment on the government Promoted liberty and despised tyranny Argued for a separation of powers Influenced our founding fathers and leaders of the French Revolution

Voltaire Critical of the catholic church Hated religious intolerance Being kind and religious should be good enough Praised religious tolerance Influenced our Founding Fathers

Immanuel Kant Promoted learning from the enlightenment Believed thinkers should exercise their reason in public First to praise free speech Influenced our Founding Fathers

Jean-Jaques Rosseau Questioned reason and the ideas of the Enlightenment Believed warm feelings were more important than cold intellect Civilizations and society attacked the individual Influenced the people of romanticism on the 1800’s