AP EURO Unit #3 – Scientific Revolution and the Era of the Enlightenment Lesson #302 ENLIGHTENMENT

Essential Questions 3. How is the Enlightenment a continuation of the Scientific Revolution? 4. Which two Enlightenment thinkers were most impactful for our own governmental system. Describe how.

What WAS the Enlightenment Textbook Definition: a European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition. 3.It was a conscious growth out of the Scientific Revolution (an attempt to explain the rationality of nature) – which was a clear attempt to adopt the humanist principles of the Renaissance 4.Reason – a favorite word of philosophes 5.Rationalism – a secular way of thinking to test knowledge – no more acceptance by faith

What WAS the Enlightenment THREE BASIC PRINCIPLES: 1.Rational thinking should be applied to all aspects of life 2.Rational thinking could be applied to society 3.Society could be improved if only rationality was applied to government and society itself

Influence of early thinkers: 1.Could “real” truth ever be known? 2.Was it the Church and religious struggles that caused suffering, rather than ease pain? Give examples… 3.How would the skeptics (like Baruch Spinoza – who said God and nature were the same thing, and “good and evil” were relative create a connection from Science to Society? 4.John Locke said we were born with TABULA RASA (a blank slate) – why would this, and his belief on your responsibility feed into enlightenment thinking?

John Locke, An Essay concerning Human Understanding (1689) Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper [tabula rasa], void of all characters without any ideas; how comes it to be furnished? Whence comes it by that vast store, which the busy and boundless fancy of man has painted on it with an almost endless variety? Whence has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer, in one word, From experience: in that all our knowledge is founded, and from that it ultimately derives itself. Our observation, employed either about external sensible objects, or about the internal operations of our minds, perceived and reflected on by ourselves is that which supplies our understandings with all the materials of thinking. 1.What is the state we are born into? In other words, how “evil” are we when we are born? 2.How do you know?

John Locke, An Essay concerning Human Understanding (1689) Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper [tabula rasa], void of all characters without any ideas; how comes it to be furnished? Whence comes it by that vast store, which the busy and boundless fancy of man has painted on it with an almost endless variety? Whence has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer, in one word, From experience: in that all our knowledge is founded, and from that it ultimately derives itself. Our observation, employed either about external sensible objects, or about the internal operations of our minds, perceived and reflected on by ourselves is that which supplies our understandings with all the materials of thinking. 1.How might we become “evil,” if we do become that? 2.Locke lived through the English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution. He saw we had a responsibility to replace a government that does not protect our rights. How did he derive at this line of thinking?

What were the Philosophes? Writers & critics – not just philosophers – Nor were they reformers – they never did take action – Usually French… WHY -? – Usually satirical – plausible deniability… Appealed to mostly middle class Encouraged free trade, new inventions, agricultural improvements LIBERTY FOR ALL – (well… for men, but not the lower classes) RELIGIOUS REFORM – (well… they hated the Church, but not God) POLITICAL REFORM – They advocated for monarchy… a responsible one

Voltaire (Francis-Marie Arouet) Most famous of philosophes Love the English Hated the Church – THE INFAMOUS THING – Claimed the Bible would become a piece of history Existentialist – Denied any hope for humanity Attacked war Attacked intolerance Attacked slavery Loved liberty… “I may disagree with you…”

Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu Men can not be trusted Powerful men have no ability to be fair Government should be divided, and… – SEPARATION OF POWER Powerful men should be forced to battle each other for power – CHECKS AND BALANCES Constitutional Monarchist Executive: King Legislative: Parliament Judicial: Courts

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Brilliant Neurotic – Everyone plotting against him Society corrupts people Several children – sent to foundling hospitals THE SOCIAL CONTRACT – 1762 “all men are born free, but everywhere, they are in chains” People become moral when they become selfless Freedom = obedience to a laws you helped to create Democratic participation – binds citizenry to community

Enlightenment explained… Hobbes Locke Montesquieu Rousseau Voltaire

Deism Lord Herbert of Cherbury was one of the earliest proponents of Deism in England. In his book "De Veritate," (1624), he described the "Five Articles" of English Deists: Belief in the existence of a single supreme God Humanity's duty to revere God Linkage of worship with practical morality God will forgive us if we repent and abandon our sins Good works will be rewarded (and punishment for evil) both in life and after death

Denis Diderot Encyclopedia (1751) A collection of – Critics of religion – Critics of government – Ship building and manufacturing – Agricultural improvements WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE GOAL?

David Hume An early skeptic Theorized the non-existence of God Discussed the human mind as bundle of impressions – nothing more His claims actually HURT the movement

Physiocrats Economic reformers Change is good Supported middle class growth Role of government was to protect property Favored enclosures NOT into mercantilism Adam Smith: Wealth of Nations (1776) – Wealthy is not finite – Mercantilism actually HURT growth

Immanuel Kant Encouraged free speech Greatest of German thinkers Still encouraged obedience to laws From East Prussia (Luther’s region) Reason is the source of morality An early proponent that perpetual peace could be secured through universal democracy and international cooperation 2m definition