The Age of Reason The Eighteenth Century Enlightenment

Background  Scientific Revolution (17 th Century) –Method of Inquiry –Trust in Human Senses and Abilities –Observation and Experimentation  Newton’s Synthesis (1690) –World in Motion –Operates according to fixed laws

Background  Reason vs. Received Authorities  Politics: Absolutism vs. Constitutionalism –England: Glorious Revolution (1688) –France: ‘Divine Right’ Absolutism Louis XIV (ruled ) Louis XV (ruled )

“Enlightenment”  Philosophes Use Scientific Method to –Observe human society, politics, religion –Seek rational explanations –Use history to understand ‘science of society’ –Discover the ‘natural laws’ governing society –Change society, politics, religion for the better

Basic Assumptions  People have the power of reason  Universe, including human society, is governed by unchanging natural laws  If we discover those laws, we can alter society for the better

Key Ideas of the Philosophes  Confidence  Reason  Progress  Natural Laws

Philosophes  18 th century intellectuals & writers in France, Britain, Germanies  Critics of the status quo  Reformers, not Revolutionaries  Assumed inequality was ‘natural’ in human society

Montesquieu  Wealthy French nobleman  Criticized absolutism which had deprived nobles of share in political power  Spirit of the Laws: uses history to study ‘science of society and government’: describes what is and what ought to be  Separation of Powers into three ‘branches’: executive, legislative, judicial

Denis Diderot  Son a cutler, specializing in surgical instruments  Wanted to be a priest; sent to Jesuit school in Paris  At 19: embarked on writing as a career  Years of struggle & poverty  Imprisoned several times for ‘impious’ attacks on church and government

Encyclopedia  Diderot’s big break: hired as Editor in Chief  Prospectus: gather existing knowledge of the arts and sciences into an orderly whole in a multi-volume work arranged alphabetically  Title: signified interrelation of sciences  Goal: share knowledge of everything

Encyclopedia  Original Plan: –10 volumes: 8 of text, 2 of plates –Estimated cost: 2,000,000 livres –Subscriptions: 280 livres a set –Diderot paid 144 livres a month  Final Version: –28 volumes: 17 of text, 11 of plates –Published from –4,200 subscribers by 1756

Encyclopedia  Articles written by all leading intellectuals  Wide range of articles: –Philosophy, religion, politics, government –Nature –Human anatomy –Crafts & industries  Illustrations & graphics provided visual explanations to supplement text

Encyclopedia  Controversial: often questioned status quo  Wildly successful; Diderot became wealthy  Quintessential Enlightenment Publication  Broadened definition of knowledge  Made knowledge accessible, at least to those who could read

Voltaire  François Marie Arouet, son of a notary  Educated in Paris by Jesuits  Dad’s Plans: Law  Young Arouet’s Career Goal: Writer  Pen Name: Voltaire first used in 1718 –Anagram for Arouet L e J eune –From Veautaire, a farm inherited from a cousin

Voltaire  Early in career, wrote essays and satires criticizing officials and government  1718: Incarcerated in Bastille for an essay lampooning the Regent for Louis XV  1720s: Success with plays and epic poems  First writer to actually make money writing

 Long term relationship with Mme du Chatelet; lived with her until 1749  Spent 4 years at court of Frederick Great of Prussia ( )  Bought estate at Ferney, near Swiss border  Known as author of tragic plays & epics to his contemporaries  Work censored by French authorities  1778: Honored in Paris

Candide  Written mid-1750s; published 1758  What is the point of this novel?