The Enlightenment in Europe Chapter 22, Section 2

Two Views on Government Scientific Revolution spurs reassessment of many prevailing ideas Europeans seek insights into society in the 1600s and 1700s Leads to Enlightenment – a movement stressing reason and thought

Hobbe’s Social Contract Hobbes distrusts humans, favors strong government to keep order Promotes social contract-getting order by giving power to monarch

Locke’s Natural Rights Philosopher John Locke says government gets power from the people Stresses that people have a right to overthrow an unjust government

The Philosophes Advocate Reason Beliefs of the Philosophes The philosophes are French social critics in the mid- 1700s Value reason, nature, happiness, progress, liberty

Voltaire Combats Intolerance Voltaire – influential philosophe, pen name of Francois Marie Arouet Publishes many works arguing for tolerance, reason Makes powerful enemies and is imprisoned twice for his views

Voltaire Wrote more than 70 books of political essays, philosophy, and drama. Used satire against his enemies, especially the clergy. Beliefs: Tolerance Reason Freedom of religious belief Freedom of speech “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Voltaire (1712-1778) AKA  Francois Marie Arouet. Essay on the Customs and Spirit of Nations, 1756 Candide, 1759 Philosophical Dictionary, 1764

Montesquieu and the Separation of Powers French writer who admires Britain’s government system Favors separation of powers to keep one body from running government

Montesqieu Believed Britain was the best-governed and most politically balanced country of his own day. Proposed the “separation of powers” between executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. Proposed “checks and balances.”

Rousseau: Champion of Freedom Philosophe who favors individual freedom, direct democracy Views social contract as agreement by free people to form government

Beccaria Promotes Criminal Justice Italian philosopher Cesare Beccaria works to reform justice system Calls for speedy trials, greater rights for criminal defendants

Cesare Bonesana Beccaria Beliefs Laws existed to preserve social order, not avenge crime. Accused should receive speedy trials. Torture should never be used. Degree of punishment should match seriousness of crime. Capital punishment (death penalty) should be abolished.

Women and the Enlightenment View on Women’s Education Change Many Enlightenment thinkers take traditional view of women’s role Prominent writer Mary Wollstonecraft urges greater rights for women Argues women need quality education to be virtuous and useful Urges women to go into traditionally professions like politics Some wealthy women use their status to promote Enlightenment ideas

Legacy of the Enlightenment Role of the Philosophes The philosophes are not activists, but inspire major revolutions Belief in Progress Scientific breakthroughs show human capacity to improve society

Importance of the Individual A More Secular Outlook New knowledge of the world leads people to question religious ideas Voltaire and others criticize beliefs and practices of Christianity Importance of the Individual People place more emphasis on individual rights, abilities Reason becomes a central concept for philosophers, rulers

Mary Wollstonecraft Women should be equally educated along with men. Women should enter professions traditionally dominated by men like medicine and politics. Wrote A Vindication of the Rights of Woman

Mary Shelley Daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft. Mistress and later wife of poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Author of Frankenstein in the summer of 1816, Later published in 1818.

Frivolous But Interesting Information

Climate and the writing of Frankenstein April 1815, Mount Tambora on the island of Sumbawa, Indonesia erupts. This was the world’s largest eruption in 1,600 years. (7 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index)

Climate and the writing of Frankenstein (continued) Immense amounts of volcanic dust ejected into the atmosphere. In the summer of 1816 temperatures in northern Europe, Canada, and the northeastern United States were at record lows. Crop failures occurred when a May frost destroyed crops already planted. 1816 has since been called “The Year Without a Summer.”

Climate and the writing of Frankenstein (continued) Effects of this volcanic winter throughout the world Westward migration from the colder New England states in the United States in search of the richer soil of the upper Midwest Food shortages, rioting and looting of food stores in Europe which was also recovering from the effects of the Napoleonic Wars Storms and abnormal rainfall in Europe causing massive flooding of rivers Unusually low temperatures, including summer snowfall in China causing famine Brown and red snow falling in Hungary and Italy from the presence of volcanic ash in the atmosphere

Climate and the writing of Frankenstein (continued) Inventions sparked by this volcanic winter Velocipede (now called bicycles) invented because of a lack of grain to feed horses Chemist Justus von Liebig, who experience this famine as a child, researched and introduced chemical fertilizers into agriculture.

Climate and the writing of Frankenstein (continued) The Shelley’s (Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin calling herself Mary Shelley though she is not yet married to Percy) spend the summer with Lord Byron at his villa by Lake Geneva in Switzerland. The weather being too cold to carry out normal summer activities, the group reside indoors staying up all night in intellectual discussions. They often sit around the fire reading German ghost stories. Illustration from the 1831 edition.

Climate and the writing of Frankenstein (continued) Lord Byron suggests that to entertain themselves indoors each of them write his or her own supernatural tale. During this time Mary Godwin conceived of the idea for Frankenstein. Therefore, being shut in due to the weather caused by a volcanic winter brought about the occasion of the writing of this famous novel. Boris Karloff as the Monster in 1931.