The Enlightenment

First time there is a secular world view in history First time there is a secular world view in history –Notion that natural science and reason could explain all aspects of life –Belief in autonomy of man’s intellect apart from God –Faith in reason rather than faith in revelation

The Enlightenment Deism- religious arm of the Enlightenment Deism- religious arm of the Enlightenment –Existence of God is a rational explanation of the existence of the universe –God was a creator- creates the universe then steps back and watches it run –Universe governed by natural law not a personal God –Supernatural was not involved in human life

The Enlightenment Belief that the scientific method could explain the laws of society Belief that the scientific method could explain the laws of society Education seen as the key to helping society make progress Education seen as the key to helping society make progress

John Locke Two Treatises of Civil Government, 1690 Two Treatises of Civil Government, 1690 –Humans are basically good –Governments should provide rule of law through consent of the governed –Government protects rights of life, liberty, property (natural rights) –Right to rebellion

John Locke Essay Concerning Human Understanding, 1690 Essay Concerning Human Understanding, 1690 –Stresses the importance of environment on human development –Education was the key –Tabula Rosa- born as a blank slate No preconceived notions or learning No preconceived notions or learning –Undermines Christian view of essentially sinful

Ideas of Toleration Bernard de Fontenelle ( ) Bernard de Fontenelle ( ) –Stressed idea of progress –Skeptical of absolute truth and questions organized religion Pierre Bayle ( ) Pierre Bayle ( ) –Critical and Historical Dictionary, 1697 Advocated complete toleration of ideas Advocated complete toleration of ideas Freedom of religious ideas Freedom of religious ideas Nothing can be known beyond a doubt Nothing can be known beyond a doubt

The Philosophes Committed to reform of society Committed to reform of society Usually not professional philosophers (like Locke and Descartes) Usually not professional philosophers (like Locke and Descartes) Believed in progress through natural laws Believed in progress through natural laws Optimistic about how people could live and govern themselves Optimistic about how people could live and govern themselves

Voltaire ( ) Strong deist Strong deist Social criticism inspires call for revolution in France Social criticism inspires call for revolution in France Advocates religious toleration Advocates religious toleration Enlightened despotism Enlightened despotism –Agrees with Hobbes on state of nature –But should have some rights to religious views –Equality before the law but not equality of the classes

Baron de Montesquieu ( ) Spirit of the Laws (1748) Spirit of the Laws (1748) –Separation of powers into three branches Monarchy, nobility, rest of the classes Monarchy, nobility, rest of the classes –Prevent tyranny –Checks and balances

Jean-Jacques Rousseau ( ) The Social Contract (1762) The Social Contract (1762) –Too much focus on property and not people causes injustice –General will- consensus of the majority should control the nation –Democracy? Limits minority view points

Rousseau Also a Romantic (glorification of emotion) Also a Romantic (glorification of emotion) Man in a state of nature was a “noble savage” corrupted by materialism Man in a state of nature was a “noble savage” corrupted by materialism Emile (1762) Emile (1762) –Progressive education- learning by doing –Leaves his own 5 kids in an orphanage and does not educate them

Denis Diderot ( ) The Encyclopedia (1765) The Encyclopedia (1765) –Essays from Enlightenment thinkers –Stressed reason, science, tolerance, while critiquing the status quo –Sought to teach people to think critically and objectively –Banned in France and put on the Pope’s Index of Forbidden Books

Marquis de Beccaria On Crimes and Punishment (1764) On Crimes and Punishment (1764) –Punishment should be based on the damage done to society, not connection to religious sin –Opposed the death penalty except when a danger to the state –Opposed torture and extracted confessions

Economic Theory Laissez Faire- let it run by itself Laissez Faire- let it run by itself Adam Smith ( ) Adam Smith ( ) –The Wealth of Nations (1776) –Bible of capitalism –Natural laws of supply and demand –Competition encourages efficient manufacture and lower cost/high quality goods –Government regulation just interferes with this process

Women in the Enlightenment Salon movement Salon movement –Assemble in salons to discuss issues of the day –Madame de Geoffren –Madame de Stael Geoffren- patronizes Diderot’s Encyclopedia Geoffren- patronizes Diderot’s Encyclopedia Philosophes favor increased rights and education for women Philosophes favor increased rights and education for women Mary Wollstonecraft- helps promote political and educational equality for women Mary Wollstonecraft- helps promote political and educational equality for women

The Later Enlightenment (Late 18 th Century) Becomes more skeptical Becomes more skeptical Baron Paul d’Holbach ( ) Baron Paul d’Holbach ( ) –System of Nature –Humans are machines determined by outside forces (determinism) –Atheist

The Later Enlightenment (Late 18 th Century) David Hume ( ) David Hume ( ) –Human ideas are a result of the senses –Cannot reason beyond what is experienced through the senses –Undermines Enlightenment emphasis on reason

The Later Enlightenment (Late 18 th Century) Jean de Condorcet ( ) Jean de Condorcet ( ) –Progress of the Human Mind –Utopian ideas –9 stages of human development with the 10 th being perfection

Classical Liberalism Political outgrowth of the Enlightenment Political outgrowth of the Enlightenment Belief in liberty of the individual and equality before the law (not democracy) Belief in liberty of the individual and equality before the law (not democracy) “Natural Rights” “Natural Rights” Impact of Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu Impact of Locke, Rousseau, and Montesquieu Belief in laissez faire capitalism of Smith Belief in laissez faire capitalism of Smith –Opposite of mercantilism Belief in progress, human dignity, and human progress Belief in progress, human dignity, and human progress Religious toleration, freedom of speech and the press, just punishments for crimes, equal treatment before the law Religious toleration, freedom of speech and the press, just punishments for crimes, equal treatment before the law

Religious Opposition German pietism- spiritual conversation and religious experience German pietism- spiritual conversation and religious experience Methodism- taught need for regeneration of moral life that would demonstrate being “born again” Methodism- taught need for regeneration of moral life that would demonstrate being “born again” –John Wesley- founder of Methodism Jansenism- France, argued against idea of an uninvolved or impersonal God Jansenism- France, argued against idea of an uninvolved or impersonal God

Impact on Society Secular world view Secular world view Enlightened Despotism in Prussia, Austria, Russia, and France Enlightened Despotism in Prussia, Austria, Russia, and France American and French Revolutions American and French Revolutions Educational reforms Educational reforms Growth of laissez faire capitalism in the 19 th century Growth of laissez faire capitalism in the 19 th century

Enlightened Despotism

Philosophes inspired and supported government reforms Philosophes inspired and supported government reforms Believed absolute rulers should promote the good of the people Believed absolute rulers should promote the good of the people Believed, like Hobbes, that people could not rule themselves Believed, like Hobbes, that people could not rule themselves Reforms: Reforms: –Religious toleration –Streamlined legal codes –Increased access to education –Reduction or elimination of torture and the death penalty

Frederick the Great (Frederick II) R R Prussia Prussia Son of Frederick William I Son of Frederick William I Strong military education Strong military education Strong supporter of French Enlightenment Strong supporter of French Enlightenment –Patronized Voltiare, lives in his court –Musician and poet

Wars of Frederick the Great War of Austrian Succession ( ) War of Austrian Succession ( ) –Cause: Frederick invades and seizes Silesia, part of the Austrian empire –Doubts about Maria Teresa’s legitimacy –Violates the Pragmatic Sanction –Prussia defeats Austria –Prussia gains Silesia –Becomes recognized as a Great Power

Wars of Frederick the Great Seven Years’ War Seven Years’ War –Cause: Maria Teresa wants to regain Silesia; gains Russia and France as allies –“Diplomatic Revolution”- France and Austria (traditional enemies) ally against Prussia –Britain supports Prussia –Bloodiest war of Europe since Thirty Years’ War

Treaty of Paris (1763) Most important peace treaty of the 18th century Most important peace treaty of the 18th century Prussia permanently regains Silesia Prussia permanently regains Silesia France lost all its colonies in North America to Great Britain France lost all its colonies in North America to Great Britain Britain gains territory in India Britain gains territory in India

Enlightened Reforms Allowed religious freedom (less for Jewish faith) Allowed religious freedom (less for Jewish faith) Promoted schools and education- modest gains Promoted schools and education- modest gains Streamlined laws- unified national law code Streamlined laws- unified national law code Freed serfs on Crown lands in 1763 (remains on individual estates) Freed serfs on Crown lands in 1763 (remains on individual estates) Improved bureaucracy by requiring civil service tests Improved bureaucracy by requiring civil service tests Abolished capital punishment Abolished capital punishment Encouraged immigration Encouraged immigration Encouraged industrial and economic growth Encouraged industrial and economic growth

Catherine the Great R R German princess who becomes queen after the assassination of her husband German princess who becomes queen after the assassination of her husband –She took part in the plot –Peter the Great had abolished the succession of hereditary czars Loved French culture Loved French culture Invites Diderot to live in her court Invites Diderot to live in her court

Pugachev Rebellion (1773) Eugene Pugachev (Cossack soldier) leads serf uprising- wants an end of serfdom Eugene Pugachev (Cossack soldier) leads serf uprising- wants an end of serfdom Catherine needs the nobility and grants them absolute control of the serfs Catherine needs the nobility and grants them absolute control of the serfs Serfdom spreads Serfdom spreads Confiscates church lands for nobles Confiscates church lands for nobles

Enlightened Reforms Imported western culture Imported western culture Education- private printing presses, schools for noble girls Education- private printing presses, schools for noble girls Restricted practice of torture Restricted practice of torture Allowed limited religious toleration Allowed limited religious toleration –Jewish civil equality, stopped persecution of Old Believers Strengthened local government by elective councils of nobles Strengthened local government by elective councils of nobles

Shortfalls and Expansion Shortfalls Shortfalls –Only the state and nobility benefited –Serfdom becomes more severe Territorial expansion Territorial expansion –Annexation of Poland and 3 way partition with Austria and Prussia –Gained Crimea –Caucasus region

Joseph II R , Austria R , Austria Perhaps greatest of Enlightened Despots Perhaps greatest of Enlightened Despots Firm believer in absolutism Firm believer in absolutism

Major Reforms Abolished serfdom and feudal dues in 1781 Abolished serfdom and feudal dues in 1781 Freedom of religion and civic rights to Protestants and Jew Freedom of religion and civic rights to Protestants and Jew Freedom of the press Freedom of the press Reformed judicial system- equality of the law Reformed judicial system- equality of the law Abolish torture and death penalty Abolish torture and death penalty Established hospitals and poor houses Established hospitals and poor houses

Non- Enlightened Despots

Maria Teresa R , Austria (Before Joseph II) R , Austria (Before Joseph II) Gains Habsburg empire from father, Charles VII Gains Habsburg empire from father, Charles VII Result of Pragmatic Sanction Result of Pragmatic Sanction Conservative and cautious Conservative and cautious

Reforms Centralized control of the Habsburg Empire Centralized control of the Habsburg Empire –Limited power of the nobility –Helped the condition of serfs –Increased army –Reduced use of torture –Improved tax system Brought Catholic Church under state control Brought Catholic Church under state control Promoted economic development Promoted economic development