1. The Age of Reason & Enlightenment
Nov 18th, 2010

2. Traditions and Superstitions
The “Great Debate”
Reason & Logic
Traditions and Superstitions
rationalism
empiricism
tolerance
skepticism
Deism
nostalgia for the past
organized religions
irrationalism
emotionalism

3. Emergence of a Secular World View
Idea that natural science (Sci Rev) & reason (Enlightenment) could explain all aspects of life

4. Belief in autonomy of man’s intellect… apart from God
Faith in. . . REASON
Belief in Deism & natural laws (Newton)

5. Hobbes Vs Locke

6. People are naturally good Stand in the Front of the Room
2 Sides
Hobbes
People Are Naturally Nasty & Brutish
Stand in the Back of the Room
John Locke
People are naturally good
Stand in the Front of the Room

7. Two Treatises of Civil Gov’t 1690
John Locke ( )
Two Treatises of Civil Gov’t 1690

8. Locke: Purpose of Gov’t =
to protect the “natural rights” of the people: life, liberty & property
If gov’t fails to protect people’s natural rights, they are justified in rebelling
Defense for the “Glorious Revolution”

9. Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690):
Tabula Rasa:
the human mind was born as a blank slate
registered input from the senses passively.
Stressed the importance of the environment on human development

10. For progress to occur in society, education was critical in determining human development.

11. <End Section on Locke>

12. Enlightenment Emphasis: Toleration for Ideas

13. Bernard de Fontenelle 1657-1757
Stressed the idea of progress
Skeptical of
Absolute Truth
Claims of organized Religion

14. Pierre Bayle ( )
Critical & Historical Dictionary
Advocated complete toleration of ideas (ex. Religion)

15. The Philosophes
an informal & unorganized group of critics who committed themselves to fundamental reform in society
Popularized ideas of the Enlightenment
By 1775, much of western Europe’s educated elite had embraced the Enlightenment

16. Perhaps the most influential of all Enlightenment philosophers
Voltaire ( )
Perhaps the most influential of all Enlightenment philosophers

17. His influential social criticism inspired many to call for change, setting the stage for the French Rev’n
Hated bigotry & injustice

18. Called for religious toleration. In regards to religious intolerance:
“Crush the infamous thing”

19. Tolerance Reason Freedom of Speech (Expression) Advocated
“I do not agree w/ what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.”

20. Enlightened Despotism
= a more benevolent form of absolutism
believed people were incapable of ruling themselves (Think Hobbes)
Voltaire’s views influenced several “Enlightened Despots”

21. Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755)
Member of the French nobility
Hated the absolutism of Louis XIV.
Spirit of the Laws (1748)

22. Called for separation of powers
Principle of checks & balances would ensure that no single branch became too powerful
the others could check an abuse of power

23. Liked British Parliament French Parlements
Groups of nobles assigned to preside over judicial issues

24. Had a significant impact on the creation of the U. S
Had a significant impact on the creation of the U.S. Constitution & the French Rev’n in the 1780s

25. Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
Man’s state of nature was good—a “noble savage”—& was corrupted by the materialism of civilization.

26. Social Contract 1762
The general will, a consensus of the majority, should control a nation.
This strongly implied democracy.

27. Believed in Emile (1762) progressive education; learning by doing;
encouraged self-expression

28. Denis Diderot ( )

29. The Encyclopedia 1765
Perhaps the greatest & most representative work of the philosophes
A vast collection of political & social critiques from various Enlightenment philosophers & authors (made ideas popular & accessible to the masses)

30. Emphasized science & reason while criticizing religion, intolerance, injustice & tyranny
Sought to teach people to think critically & objectively
Banned in France & placed by the pope on the Index of Prohibited Books

31. Marquis di Beccaria

32. On Crimes and Punishment (1764)
Make criminal law about reason (enlightenment ideals) & equality before the law

33. Advocated For Speedy trials Influenced Enlightened Despots
Fought
against torture,
cruel & unusual punishment
Capital (loss of life) Punishment
Advocated For Speedy trials
Influenced Enlightened Despots

34. The Enlightenment: Economics

35. Mercantilism vs. Modern Capitalism
Old
Finite amount of Wealth
Gov’t must participate, regulate & support the economy
Colonies exist for the benefit of the mother country; Must only be allowed to trade with the mother country. Export more than you import
New
Infinite amount of Wealth
Gov’t must keep its hands off (Laissez Faire) the economy b/c self-interest will be the most efficient way to fuel an economy
Promote free trade in the hopes of promoting efficiency

36. Adam Smith ( )
Wealth of Nations - Considered the “Bible” of capitalism.

37. In a free market economy, competition will encourage producers to manufacture most efficiently in order to sell higher quality, lower cost goods than competitors.
Gov’t regulation only interferes with this natural self-governing style

38. 3 Natural Laws of Economics Which Promote Efficiency
Law of self-interest
Law of competition
Law of supply & demand

39. Leader of the physiocrats - who opposed mercantilist policies
Francois Quesnay ( )
Leader of the physiocrats - who opposed mercantilist policies
Sought to reform the existing agrarian system by instituting laissez faire in agriculture

40. Women in the Enlightenment

41. Played a major role in the salon movement
Many of the brightest minds of the Enlightenment assembled in salons to discuss the major issues of the day
Organized & Participated in salons
Mary Wollstonecraft ( ) promoted political & educational equality for women

42. Generally, the Enlightenment did not like or have much respect for women
When women tried to apply its ideas of freedom & equality to their own sex, even the most radical leaders of the French Revolution repressed them

43. Classical Liberalism

44. The political outgrowth of the Enlightenment
Belief in liberty of the individual and equality before the law
“Natural rights” philosophy played a profound role in the American and French Revolutions
Impact of Locke and Montesquieu was evident in the American Constitution and in the French Declaration of the Rights of Man
Rousseau’s idea of the “general will” influenced the French Revolution after 1791.

45. Belief in laissez faire capitalism (Adam Smith)
Government should not interfere in the economy
Opposite of mercantilism

46. Belief in progress, (through reason and education), human dignity and human happiness

47. Religious toleration, freedom of speech & the press, just punishments for crimes, and equal treatment before the law

48. Enlightenment & Religion

49. Diesm

50. German pietism
argued the need for spiritual devotion and religious experience

51. Methodism:
John Wesley ( ): Founder of Methodism
taught need for spiritual regeneration & a moral life that would demonstrate one’s having been “born-again”.

52. Jansenism (Catholic sect) in France argued against idea of an uninvolved or impersonal God
Had earlier been persecuted by Louis XIV for their incorporation of some Calvinist ideas (e.g. predestination)

53. Impact of the Enlightenment on society

54. Emergence of a secular world view of the universe

55. American & French Revolutions (as a result of classical liberalism)

56. Educational reform in various countries

57. Growth of laissez faire capitalism in the 19th century during the early industrial revolution in England & in 19th-century America

58. Enlightened despotism in Prussia, Russia, Austria & France (Napoleon)