The Literature of the Enlightenment

Age of Enlightenment Also called the Age of Reason 17th and 18th Centuries Many people came to believe they could arrive at truth solely through human reason Through rational, logical thinking, human beings could probe the secrets of the universe and understand the true relationship between themselves and God

A Time of Contrasts Exotic goods, immense quantities of gold and silver from the East = VERY, VERY rich monarchs of Europe Rich grew richer and the poor grew exceptionally poorer… The Rich built lavish homes and became patrons to enhance their wealthy reputations (UNLIKE IN THE RENAISSANCE TIME PERIOD) The Poor: flocked to cities in search of work, lived in slums, suffered from malnutrition, epidemic illnesses ravaged the cities, crime rate sky-rocketed Based on this knowledge, what could one expect to happen in the near future???

Science Scientific Investigation on the rise Rene Descartes: believed the deductive method in math was the way to discover universal truths Newton: describes a clockwork universe government by absolute laws that can be expressed mathematically

Rationalism Based on Descartes, Newton, and other philosophies/research, Rationalism is born. Rationalism supports the idea that UNCHANGING laws govern politics and morality. Thomas Hobbes- believed that people NEED the government to impose order because they were inherently greedy and selfish- Have to give up some freedoms to save/protect them from themselves Hobbes- absolute monarchist

Social Theory: The Spark of Revolution John Locke- Empiricist- someone who believes that experience rather than learned information is the only reliable source of knowledge At birth the mind is a blank state on which experience is recorded Believed people had natural rights that rulers were supposed to protect Rousseau- wrote that humanity is naturally good but is corrupted by the environment, by education, and by government Believed government MUST be subject to the will or the people

Literature: Age of Satire SATIRE very, very popular during this time period. La Fontaine wrote shrewdly satirical fables Moliere wrote satirical dramas exposing the greed, hypocrisy, and faults of French society Swift wrote the most scathing satire reflecting his bitter outrage at the corruption

Voltaire ADVERSARY of Rousseau Always looking to discount Rousseau’s theory that human beings are innately good Maintained that ART should be used to change society- his satires were directed at people who abused privilege and power

Try this analogy… Ideas of the Enlightenment :: American and French Revolutions What is the RELATIONSHIP?!?!?