1. The Age of Enlightenment aka The Age of Reason
18th Century Thought

2. Age of Reason aka the Enlightenment
Truth via rational & logical thought!
Assumption: Everything in the universe can be explained!
Ideas spread via coffeehouses, salons, secret clubs [Masonic Lodge], published writings…
Public Opinion thru common knowledge

3. Influences on the Age of Reason

4. Early Philosophes Thinkers, writers, critics, reformers…
Qs directed at the growing urban society…
Immanuel Kant… Dare to Know! Q! Think!
Denis Diderot >> Encyclopedia
17 volumes of known information
Francois-Marie Arouet aka Voltaire
Jailed in Bastille > exile in England > travels Europe
Candide = satire attacking human optimism
Free Speech / Religious Toleration

5. Enlightenment & Religious Thought
Claims established religion is hindrance to rational thought & human development
Against secularized Church of Old Regime
Deism
God rational, “watchmaker”
Q the Biblical narrative
Against Judaism (primitive) &
Islam (fanatics)
Spinoza: secularized Judaism... God/nature
Mendelsohn: blend w/ Europeans while keeping faith… toleration

6. Enlightenment & Society
John Locke
Tabula Rasa… experience alone makes us!
Humans are rational, trust them to choose wisely
Cesar Beccaria
Vs. torture & capital punishment b/c it is cruel
Utilitarian… greatest good for greatest #
Physiocrats
Gov’t exists to protect property / farming is #1
Adam Smith
Capitalism via “Invisible Hand” of free market
Laissez-faire = gov’t “hands off” economy

7. Enlightenment & Politics
Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan
Man is evil, needs control by strong ruler
Social Contract: give up your rights in exchange for protection
J Locke: Two Treatises on Government
Man is rational & good, can choose well
Social Contract: Government exists by the consent of the governed, bad government should be replaced

8. Enlightenment & Politics
Montesquieu: Spirit of the Laws
Constitutional Monarchy
Separation of powers = 3 Branches of Gov’t
Legislative (Create Law)
Executive (Enforce Law)
Judicial (Interpret Law)
JJ Rousseau: The Social Contract
Direct Democracy via “General Will” of people
Loyalty to community is #1
Man is good, but corrupted by society L J

9. Enlightenment & Women Supported Philosophes via “Salons”
Madames Geoffrin, Pompadour etc.
Mary Wollstonecraft: Vindication of Rts
Education is key / Gender equality / Reform
Montesquieu
Gender equality / Traditional / Limited change
JJ Rousseau: Emile
Educated but… “Separate spheres”
Traditional roles / Subordinate to men

10. Enlightened Absolutism
Frederick the Great (Prussia)
Religious toleration / Merit based ennobling
Legal codes / Education / Reform
Catherine the Great (Russia)
Limited reform / Charter of Nobility (rights)
Joseph II (Austria)
Religious toleration / Legal reform
Abolished serfdom

11. Enlightenment & the Arts
Rococo
Light-hearted, frivolous, pastel, light, playful
Hôtel… gardens… suggestive statuary
Neo-classical
Greek-Roman themes, topics, style

12. Poland: Victim of Competition
Poland lacked…
Strong monarchy
Natural defenses
Loyal nobility
Bureaucracy
Partitioned by Prussia, Russia & Austria
Ceased to exist as a country, 1795 until 1919
Polish people live under others