The Philosophes of the Enlightenment Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Diderot

Voltaire ( ) Real name: François-Marie Arouet Religious Toleration – The Jean Calas affair (Hey kids, I’m going to kill you rather than have you converted!), Treatise on Tolerance Candide – novel about the life of a boy, Candide, and optimism vs. pessimism – Mocks “divine right” political philosophy – Makes fun of traditional, non-rational education: “Master Pangloss taught the metaphysico-theologo-cosmolo-nigology” Anglophile – “Letters on the English” – Admired religious and political toleration in England Participated in many top intellectual circles throughout Europe Exiled from France and twice imprisoned in the Bastille for his controversial philosophy Voltaire “I may not agree with what You say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Montesquieu ( ) Name: Charles Louis de Secondat Persian Letters (1721) – satirized contemporary institutions – (i.e. parlements) Spirit of the Laws (1748) – suggested that the British Constitution was an ideal model for government Favored monarchies tempered by intermediary institutions Checks and Balances Visibility of public offices Believed that there was not one “right” type of government – Depends on your state Montesquieu “To be truly great one has to stand with men not above them.”

Montesquieu cont. Background: Lawyer, Noble of the Robe, Member of the provincial parlement Presented scientific papers at the Bordeaux Academy of Science 1730s- Visited England and it’s institutions – Admired England and their government – FUN FACT: His ideas influenced the writers of our own constitution.

Rousseau Real Name: Jean-Jacques Rousseau ( ) Major Works: Discourse on the Moral Effects of the Arts and Sciences-civilization and the Enlightenment have corrupted humans, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality-blames evil on the uneven distribution of property, The Social Contract-outlines political structure that would overcome the evils of humanity Beliefs: people should work together to achieve goals, rejected the commercial spirit, and thought people were by nature selfish Was very different from the other philosophes and was not appreciated in his time. Rousseau b d Critic of the very foundation of social thought and action. “I may be no better, but at least I am different.”

Rousseau Background: born in Geneva, Switzerland, was orphaned at a young age, spent his time in Paris salons, formed few close friendships, and had many children but abandoned them at hospitals. Thought the world was evil and hated society.

Diderot Denis Diderot Oct 5, July 31, 1784 Leader of the creation of the first edition of the Encyclopedia Anti-slavery Machinery Everything lends itself to everything else PROGRESS Here lies Denis Diderot, a man of enlightened knowledge, progress, and the means to write the Encyclopedia.” “There is only one passion, the passion for happiness.”-Denis Diderot