The Age of Enlightenment Late 1600s – 1800ish

10/7 “Dare to know, have the courage to use your own intelligence” - Immanuel Kant

10/9/14 “The discipline of desire is the backbone of character” - John Locke

Definition An era of time or mindset which involved ideas and attitudes centered around criticism; questioning of traditional –Institutions (Church and Gov’t) –customs –morals

Inspired by Science Grew out of emphasis on reason from the Scientific Revolution, –Found laws to govern the physical world –Therefore, apply methods of science to help discover laws of human behavior that governed society.

Source of the Problem Problems in history had been caused by ignorance and superstition –Cruelty and oppression created by Gov’t and the Church

Religious Conflict

Rationality Logic, ReasonExperimentation +

Freedom of Thought Challenge Traditional Authority Reject blind/strict obedience

Humanitarianism End Human Suffering –Caused by Cruelty & Oppression

Progress Break away from the past Reach the “Golden Age” Ultimate goal: Solve the world’s problems

Vocab. Natural Laws: laws that govern human nature or behavior Social Contract: An agreement by which people give up the state of nature for an organized society Philosophes: Enlightenment thinkers, means lovers of wisdom, applied the methods of science to improve society

Immanuel Kant “Dare to know, have the courage to use your own intelligence” Be mature Beware of relying on guardians Make public use of your intelligence Question everything!

10/8/14 Life in a state of nature would be solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short - Thomas Hobbes

Voltaire Criticized Church and State –Attacked Superstition Ignorance Prejudice –Solution: Freedom of speech

“It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere.”It is difficult to free fools from the chains they revere. - Voltaire

“I do not agree with a word that you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it” - Voltaire

10/11/13 “The rich...are led by an invisible hand to make nearly the same distribution of the necessaries of life, and thus without intending it, without knowing it, advance the interest of the society ” - Adam Smith

Adam Smith Physiocrat: Worked toward solving economic problems Supported –Free market: creates competition –Laissez-faire policies (lay- zay-FAIR) Regulation stifles growth Connection to Today? –Capitalism free market economies of today = U.S.

Adam Smith Supported –Theory of Supply and Demand –Theory of Self-Interest –Theory of Competition

Why did Smith believe self interest and competition were beneficial for society?

Think of an industry that relates to Smith’s ideas

How do the ideas of Smith relate to the Four Themes of the Enlightenment?

10/10/13 A nation may lose its liberties in a day and not miss them in a century. - Baron de Montesquieu

Baron de-Montesquieu Separation of Powers –Combined Executive/Legislative branches = no liberty –Critical to separate Judicial branch from Legislative branch Connection to today? –Basis for U.S. Constitution Checks and Balances system

“Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains” - Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Published The Social Contract –General Will of the people must govern Give up rights/self interest Connections to Today? –U.S. has “the common good” –Aspects of socialism

Denis Diderot Published the Encyclopedia –Helped spread Enlightenment ideas

10/21/13 “Strengthen the female mind and there will be an end to blind obedience” - Mary Wollstonecraft

Mary Wollstonecraft How do the idea of Wollstonecraft apply to the four themes of the Enlightenment? –Rationality –Freedom of Thought –Humanitarianism –Progress How do any of the issues raised by Wollstonecraft relate to today? –Do these problems still exist? –Do they exist in different ways?

Mary Wollstonecraft Denounced the objectifying of women by men and society at large Promoted education for women Encouraged women to challenge their traditional roles

10/22/13. “You philosophers are lucky men. You write on paper and paper is patient. Unfortunate Empress that I am, I write on the susceptible skins of living beings” - Catherine the Great

Compare and contrast their quotations How are they saying different things? Why are they saying different things? Do they deserve the title of Enlightened Despots, Yes or No and Why?

Enlightened Despots Enlightened: having or showing a rational, modern, and well- informed outlook. Despot: a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel or oppressive way.

Catherine the Great: Enlightened Despot Reformed law/gov’t Spoke out against serfdom Promoted Education Allowed greater freedom of speech Lowered taxes

Frederick the Great “I am the principle servant of the state” “In my kingdom, everyone can go to heaven in their own fashion” Reforms –Started Civil service –Simplified laws –Religious toleration –Agriculture reforms –Feed the poor

Enlightened Despots? Do they deserve the title? Yes or No, Alternative titles? Appeared “enlightened” as long as it didn’t threaten their power used Enlightenment ideas to their own advantage/power