Enlightenment The Age of Reason

Five Key Ideas Reason Nature Happiness Progress Liberty

Philosophes-social critics, French for Philosophers or “thinkers” Salons-social gathering where philosophes meet to discuss ideas and enjoy art Paris-the cultural and intellectual capital of Europe during Enlightenment

Hobbes Wrote Leviathan (1651)--- presents a bleak picture of human beings in the state of nature, where life is "nasty, brutish, and short." All humans are naturally wicked and selfish.

Hobbes People need government with total control to keep order. Fear of a violent death causes people to give up their rights to gain law and order under a sovereignty. He supported absolute monarchy.

“War of every man against every man.” Hobbes

Locke People are reasonable and can learn from experience. People can govern themselves. Natural rights—life, liberty, property Government should protect these rights or be abolished. Wrote Two Treatises on Government (1690)

"Though the familiar use of the Things about us, takes off our Wonder; yet it cures not our Ignorance." Locke

Voltaire Wrote more than 70 books Used satire Made fun of French government Believed in freedom of thought, expression and religion.

“Crush the infamous thing!” Voltaire

Montesquieu Wrote On the Spirit of Laws (1748) Separation of powers

“Power should be a check to power.” Montesquieu

Rousseau Wrote The Social Contract (1762)— In it he maintained that human beings were essentially good and equal in the state of nature but were corrupted by the introduction of property, agriculture, science, and commerce. Freedom and equality have been destroyed by unjust laws.

Believed in direct democracy in which people work for the common good. People are equal.

There should be no nobility. Education is not the imparting of knowledge but the drawing out of what is already in the child. Was tormented by persecution mania, and lived his later years in seclusion.

“Man is born free and everywhere he is in chains.” Rousseau

Beccaria Believed in abolishment of torture and capital punishment. Laws exist to preserve social order not avenge crime. Wrote On Crimes and Punishment (1764)

Wollstonecraft Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792) Women should be educated like men and should participate in politics. She was especially critical of a society that encouraged women to be "docile and attentive to their looks to the exclusion of all else.”

“If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves “If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?” Wollstonecraft

Smith “Father of Capitalism” Supported free trade and laissez faire 3 Natural Laws of Economics: self-interest competition supply and demand

Diderot Created a large set of books to which the leading scholars would contribute articles and essays……. Encyclopedia First volumes published in 1751

"The good of the people must be the great purpose of government "The good of the people must be the great purpose of government. By the laws of nature and of reason, the governors are invested with power to that end. And the greatest good of the people is liberty. It is to the state what health is to the individual." Diderot

Impact Philosophes were not active revolutionaries, but their ideas led to American and French Revolutions. Belief in Progress A more secular or worldly outlook Individualism

Enlightened Despots Absolute monarchs who embraced the ideas of the Enlightenment and made reforms…….BUT they would not give up their power.

Frederick II “First Servant of the State” Prussia 1740-1786 Was for religious freedoms Reduced censorship Improved education Abolished torture BUT…..Didn’t end serfdom

Joseph II Ruled Austria 1780-1790 Made legal reforms Freedom of press Freedom of worship Abolished serfdom - - peasants must be paid with cash

Catherine II (The Great) Ruled Russia (1762-1796) Was very educated Presented many reforms that never came true She was too afraid of losing the support of the nobles Enlarged the Russian Empire

American Revolution Britain’s constitutional monarchy was considered the most enlightened. They had a king, but he did not have absolute power. The British Colonies in North America were being taxed by Britain without any representation. (Other restrictions too.)

American Revolution Colonies had already become self-governed. Colonies declared independence and became a republic.

Baroque Art A strong sense of movement and energy Striking use of chiaroscuro---light and shadow contrast Intense, luminous color Naturalism---depiction based upon observation of reality, not idealized types