AGE OF REASON IN EUROPE

The Enlightenment

Enlightenment

Age of reason Scholars no longer rely solely on authority The role of the Universities

Everything can be rediscussed

Government Religion Economics Education

The Enlightenment and the Government

Thomas Hobbes and John Locke Both Scholars lived the English Revolution Known as the founders known as the first illuminists

Thomas Hobbes

The Social Contract An agreement between the people and its

government• Power no longer comes from divine right• Comes from the consent of the people Leviathan – 1651 Influenced by the horrors of the English Revolution

All humans are selfish and wicked by nature Without a government men would destroy themselves

The need of a strong ruler An absolutist monarch

In exchange they would gain law and order

John Locke

Natural Right All people are born free and equal

People can learn from expirience and improve thenselves Self government

People could look after the welfare 3 Natural Rights

Life, liberty and property The purpose of government is to protect this rights

If it fails to do so, the people have the right to overthrow it

The Advocates of Reason

Reason Truth can only be found through reason

Nature What is natural is good

Happiness Should be found on earth

Progress We all can improve

Liberty revolution

Voltaire

To combat intolerance The world worst enemies

Intolerance, prejudice and superstition

Freedom of Speech “I do not agree with a word you say but will defend to the death your right to say it”

Montesquieu

Separation of Powers The british do it right!

Executive power The king and the ministers

Legislative power Parliament

Judicial power The judges of the english courts

Rousseau

Freedom If men aren’t free them their lives have no meaning

The society corrupts the man Men are born free, the society puts it in chains

Democracy The only good government

Consent of the people + freedom + equality

Women and the Enlightment

Education Women received no education or very little

Even noble women received secondary education when compared to man

Enlightment philosophers and women rights

Women are weak Their education should be used only for domestic purposes Women who read become rebellious

Emilie du Châtelet

Self taught Never entered a university

But her essays and translations were studied there

Sciences Mathematician and physicist

Her longtime lover, the philosopher and poet Voltaire, wrote to the King of Prussia that she “was a great man whose only fault was being a woman.”

Emilie du Châtelet

Translated and wrote commentary on Sir Isaac Newton’s work, Principia Mathematica. Her translation, published posthumously in 1759, is still considered the French standard by which all others are measured. She also published several papers throughout her lifetime, including one describing her research on fire, in which she correctly predicted what would later be described as infrared radiation.

Mary Astell

A serious Proposal to the Ladies Lack of education “If absolute sovereighnty be not necessary in a state, how comes it to be so in a family? (…) If all men are born free, how is it that all women are born slaves?

Mary Wollstonecraft

A Vindiction of the Rights of Woman 1792 Woman have mental capacity of atending universities Woman should work

Woman should enter politics, science and medical fields

Mother of Mary Shelley

Enlightment and Monarchy

Enlightened Despots A absolute ruler that has Enlightment ideas

Is suposed to rule justly Maybe have a little constitution To be a patron of arts and science

A absolute ruler It wont give in any power Reasons why:

Apear liberal appease the bourgeoisie

Enlightment and Monarchy

Frederick the Great King of Prussia

Granted religious freedon Reduced censorship Improved education Reformed the justice system

Abolished torture

The first servent of the state

Friends with Voltaire

Enlightment and Monarchy

Joseph the II King of Austria

Freedom of press Freedom of worship Abolished serfdorm

Enlightment and Monarchy

Catherine the Great Empress of Russia

An educated empress Education for noble women

Granted religious freedon Reformed the justice system Friends with Voltaire