Main Contents I. General Introduction II. British Philosophy III. French Philosophy IV....
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Transcript of Main Contents I. General Introduction II. British Philosophy III. French Philosophy IV....
They applied reason to the “human world” not just
the natural world!
The Human world includes government and law
1. Enlightenment
A progressive philosophical,
intellectual and cultural movement
Period: 17th and 18th centuries
Originating : in England
Advocates: Voltaire, Montesquieu,
Rousseau
Goal: liberty, fraternity and equality
1. Enlightenment
Features:
Strong faith in the power of reason, logic and rational thought;
Belief in using the scientific method to solve social problems;
Thinkers were against Divine Right and believed the people are the source of government’s power
1. Enlightenment the Age of Reason VS the Age of Faith
result: in Constitution—separation of
power
in Religion
in Revolution
in art and music
The American War of Independence
Industrial Revolution
French Revolution
Freedom of religion
neoclassicism
2. British Philosophy
● Thomas Hobbes ● 1588-1679
● 1651 Leviathan
利维坦 ● Human nature
● Social contract ● The best form of government: Monarchy( 君主政体)
Hobbes: human nature
Human beings were naturally wicked.
Human beings could not be trusted to make decisions to benefit all, only to benefit themselves.
He believed an absolute monarch was necessary to protect human beings (Humans not capable of self-rule)
Hobbes: Social Contract
The people and the leader have a Social Contract.
The only way to avoid war, chaos, disarray is a strong central ruler.
People give up their rights to an absolute ruler in exchange for protection, law, and order.
People do not have the right to rebel
John Locke 1632-1704 British Philosopher Life, Liberty, Property Works: Letter on Toleration Two Treatises of
Government The Reasonableness of
Christianity Essay Concerning Human
Understanding
John Locke Believed in democracy because he
argued the people were SOVEREIGN--the people have ultimate power
Believed people were not born wicked. Believed individual must become rational
creature. The doctrine of the divine right of kings
were nonsense. He favored a republic as the best form of
government
He influenced the Declaration of Independence.
“ among these rights are life, liberty, and
the pursuit of happiness”
Mary Wollstonecraft
1792 A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Argued women are not naturally inferior to men; they just suffer from lack of educational opportunities.
Argued that men and women should be treated as equal beings
Argued that social order should be determined by reason not by gender, race, wealth, etc.
Queen Elizabeth I (“The Virgin Queen”)
An Enlightened ruler. Never got married. Even though she believed in
Divine Right she still saw the need to rule with reason.
She settled decades-long religious tension in England
(Catholics vs. Protestants) The philosophers saw her as
an inspiration to other monarchs.
King Louis XIV (“The Sun King”)
Believed in Divine Right: Believed God anointed him king so he was only responsible to answer to God, not to his subjects
King Louis XIV (“The Sun King”) Ruled France as an absolute monarch in
control of every aspect of every French citizen’s life
Believed his entire kingdom revolved solely around him: called himself “The Sun King”
King Louis XIV (“The Sun King”)
Lived a lavish life funded by heavy taxes on most of his subjects
Most of his subjects lived in poverty with barely enough to eat
French Philosophy
1. Voltaire (1694--1778)
The French poet, dramatist, historian, and philosopher
He was noted for his characteristic wit, satire and critical capacity.
Voltaire 1694-1778
French Philosopher Works: Essay on the custom
and the Spirit of Nations
Candide (1758) Philosophical
Dictionary
Voltaire Voltaire used his works to express criticism
toward the Catholic Church and the French institutions of his time period.
The relationship between religion and the government: separation of church and state
Staunch supporter of individual liberties and rights.
Believed in the freedom of speech and religion.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend, to the death, your right to say it.”
French Philosophy 1. Montesquieu 1689---1755 The jurist, satirist, and
political and social philosopher
Works: a. Persian Letters
(1721) b. The Spirit of the Laws
(1748)
● Monarchies: ruled by a king/queen guided by honor
● Republics: ruled by elected officials guided by virtue
● Despotisms: ruled by absolute dictators guided by fear
In order to avoid one person gaining all the power
(NO ABSOLUTISM!)Influence on the U.S. Constitution: sets up three branches of Government, just as Montesquieu recommended.
French Philosophy 3. Jean-Jacques Rousseau 1712--1778 The Swiss-born philosopher,
author, political theorist and composer.
• Works:
• A Discourse on the Sciences and Arts
• On Education
• The Social Contract (1762)
Rousseau’s Social Contact
The Social Contract—the illusion that all
men were equal and material
possessions did not matter.
He glorified human nature and attacked
social inequality.
He believed humans were naturally
good and corrupted by society.
Rousseau’s Social Contact He believed government forces people
to distrust each other and takes freedoms away.
He believed that the people are the source of government powers.
He believed government’s job was to help people be happy.
If government did not do its job people had the right to remove leaders
Marquis de Condorcet
Work: Progress of the Human Mind
An expectation of universal happiness;
Every individual guided by reason could enjoy true independence.
He advocated a free and equal education and equal rights for women.
Female French Philosophers
Emilie du Chatalet A French noblewoman Study mathematics
and physics Her lover—Voltaire,
learnt a lot of science from her.
Characteristics of Enlightenment
A preference for evidence, not faith A desire for rationality, logic and reason. A rejection of emotionalism. Increased interest in science,
mathematics, geometry. An admiration for Greece and Rome and
an abhorrence for everything medieval. A preference for technology over
wilderness.
Effects of the Enlightenment
Proposed the belief that men ought to be ruled by laws, not rulers.
The philosophes argued that social progress and political freedom were restrained by the state and the church and did not reflect man’s natural goodness.
Belief in progress and man’s ability to solve problems.
Prepare intellectual justification for U. S. and French Revolutions.
Fueled democratic revolutions around world (American, French)
F.
Bastille: The French Revolution Begins July
14, 1789!
Signing of the Declaration of Independence: July 4, 1776
Stimulated religious tolerance
S.“ It would be reasonable if we all just got along, wouldn’t it?
Billy Graham,Protestant, and Pope John Paul II
Literature English Literature Alexander Pope Daniel Defoe Jonathan Swift Henry Fielding
German Literature Wolfgang von Goethe
English Literature
1. Alexander Pope (1688---1744) The greatest poet, satirist, essayist and critic of the 18th century. Heroic Couplet The spokesman of the Age of Reason Tuberculosis—asthma hunchback toad
Alexander Pope
Major works: An Essay on Criticism; 《批评论》 The Rape of the Lock; 《 夺 发
记》 or 《秀发劫》 Successful translation of Homer’s
epics: Iliad and Odyssey into English
Famous lines
A little learning is a dangerous thing.
To err is human, to forgive, divine.
Blessed is the man who expects nothing,
for he shall never be disappointed.
An honest man is the noblest work of God.
Charms strike the sight, but merit wins the
soul.
The Rape of the Lock
Mock-heroic poet 效嘲英雄詩 Arabella Petre A lock of hair Breach between
two families
2. Daniel Defoe (1660--1731)
Prolific novelist and political journalist.
The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
《鲁宾逊漂流记》
Jonathan Swift (1667—1745)
Churchman, political writer and poet;
The foremost satirist;
Works:
A Modest Proposal
《拘谨的提议》 Gulliver’s Travels
《格利佛游记》
Gulliver’s Travels
Gulliver, an honest,
blunt English ship’s
captain;
Lilliput
Brobdingnag
Laputa
Houyhnhnms
Henry Fielding (1707--1754)
Novelist, dramatist, and essayist
Father of the English novel
Major work: The History of Tom
Jones, a Foundling 《 弃 儿 汤 姆 . 琼 斯 的 历
史 》
German Literature
Wolfgang von
Goethe One of the greatest poet,
writer, journalist, painter,
theater manager, scientist and
statesman.
Fan of Shakespeare
Faust (part I, 1808; part II,
1832)