The Age of The Age of Reason & Reason &

EnlightenmEnlightenmentent

The Age of The Age of Reason & Reason &

EnlightenmEnlightenmentent

Characteristics of the Characteristics of the Enlightenment ThoughtEnlightenment Thought1.1. Rationalism Rationalism reason is the arbiter of all things. reason is the arbiter of all things.

2.2. Secularism Secularism application of the methods of application of the methods of science to religion & philosophy.science to religion & philosophy.

4.4. Scientific Method Scientific Method analysis, experimentation, analysis, experimentation, inductive reasoning.inductive reasoning.

5.5. Utilitarianism Utilitarianism the greatest good for the the greatest good for the greatest number.greatest number.

6.6. Tolerance Tolerance Any or no religious belief is Any or no religious belief is toleratedtolerated

7.7. Optimism & Self-Confidence Optimism & Self-Confidence man is intrinsically man is intrinsically good.good.

8.8. Freedom of thought and expression Freedom of thought and expression Liberty for Liberty for all (battle against absolutism).all (battle against absolutism).

9.9. Education of the Masses – Public EducationEducation of the Masses – Public Education

10.10. Legal Reforms Legal Reforms Due Process, Justice, Fairness, Due Process, Justice, Fairness, EqualityEquality

11.11. Constitutionalism Constitutionalism Written constitutions listing Written constitutions listing individual rightsindividual rights

The The EnlightenmentEnlightenment The dominant intellectual movement of the The dominant intellectual movement of the

1818thth Century Century

Although an international movement, it was Although an international movement, it was dominant in Francedominant in France

French thinkers were known as French thinkers were known as “Philosophes” “Philosophes” Critics of government, economics, and religionCritics of government, economics, and religion

Advocates of change and improvement in the Advocates of change and improvement in the human condition and reform of societyhuman condition and reform of society

Believed that human reason could solve all Believed that human reason could solve all problemsproblems

Reason would reveal natural laws that regulated Reason would reveal natural laws that regulated human naturehuman nature

The “Great Debate”

Reason& LogicReason& Logic

Traditionsand

Superstitions

Traditionsand

Superstitions

rationalismrationalism empiricismempiricism tolerancetolerance skepticismskepticism DeismDeism

nostalgia for the nostalgia for the pastpast

organized religionsorganized religions irrationalismirrationalism emotionalismemotionalism

French Philosophes often met in salons sponsored by prominent Parisian women known as Salonnieres

The Salonnieres

Madame Madame GeoffrinGeoffrin

(1699-1777)(1699-1777)

MadameMadameSuzanne NeckerSuzanne Necker

(1739-1794)(1739-1794)

John Locke (1632-1704)John Locke (1632-1704)English thinker and writer who influenced others during English thinker and writer who influenced others during Enlightenment and in the American colonies. Two major works:Enlightenment and in the American colonies. Two major works:

•Essay Concerning Human UnderstandingEssay Concerning Human Understanding– At birth every human mind is blank. All knowledge comes from experience. At birth every human mind is blank. All knowledge comes from experience.

Repudiated the view that humans were born to submit to authorityRepudiated the view that humans were born to submit to authority

•Second Treatise of Government Second Treatise of Government – Based on the Social Contract Theory that people have come Based on the Social Contract Theory that people have come

together in a social contract to protect life, liberty, & property.together in a social contract to protect life, liberty, & property.– When government fails to protect peoples natural rights and When government fails to protect peoples natural rights and

instead interferes with them the people have the right to rebelinstead interferes with them the people have the right to rebel

The French PhilosophesThe French Philosophes

Voltaire (1694-1778)Voltaire (1694-1778)• Prolific and witty writer who Prolific and witty writer who

criticized France’s Old Regime.criticized France’s Old Regime.• Most famous work is his satirical Most famous work is his satirical

work work Candide Candide in which he attacks in which he attacks superstition, religious persecution, superstition, religious persecution, war, and the human condition.war, and the human condition.

• He admired English government He admired English government and spirit ot tolerance. In his and spirit ot tolerance. In his Letters Letters on the English on the English he advocates free he advocates free speech, praises England's limited speech, praises England's limited monarchy and denounced the monarchy and denounced the FrenchFrench

“I may not agree with a word you say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it”

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)The Social Contract - 1762The Social Contract - 1762

• Swiss born philosopher. Less vocal and controversial than Voltaire. Believed strongly in goodness of human nature.

• Concerned primarily with moral freedom and believed that European society had become too decadent and that enlightened thinkers had contributed to this.

• He called for a simpler life in which individuals should focus on exercise, self-reliance and independent thinking.

• Proposed the idea of the noble savage noble savage who controls his life and destiny

• In his book The Social Contract The Social Contract he advocated that government should be based on popular sovereignty popular sovereignty and people have the right to change government when they are discontented

Baron de Montesquieu Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755(1689-1755• French attorney and philosopher who

believe no single political system was ideal.

• He believed different governments were better for different systems.

• He did believe that the perfect government would have separation of powers separation of powers and checks checks and balances and balances to prevent tyranny by leaders. He expressed this in Spirit of the Laws (1748)Spirit of the Laws (1748)

• Strongly opposed slavery as being contrary to Strongly opposed slavery as being contrary to natural law in which all men are born free and natural law in which all men are born free and independent.independent.

Denis Diderot (1713-1784)Denis Diderot (1713-1784)

Compiled collection of the work of the philosophes and all knowledge, into the Encyclopedia: The Encyclopedia: The Rational Dictionary of Rational Dictionary of the Sciences, the Arts, the Sciences, the Arts, and the Crafts and the Crafts •28 Volumes•60,000 articles, 2885 illustrations•Took 25 years to finish (began in 1751)•Philosophes, scientists and scholars contributed to the work.

Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedia

Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedia

The Legacy of the Enlightenment1.1. The democratic revolutions begun in The democratic revolutions begun in

America in 1776 and continued in America in 1776 and continued in Amsterdam, Brussels, and especially Amsterdam, Brussels, and especially in Paris in the late 1780s, put every in Paris in the late 1780s, put every Western government on the Western government on the defensive.defensive.

2.2. Reform, democracy, and Reform, democracy, and republicanism moved to the republicanism moved to the forefront of western thoughtforefront of western thought

3.3. New forms of civil society arose –-- New forms of civil society arose –-- clubs, salons, fraternities, private clubs, salons, fraternities, private academies, lending libraries, and academies, lending libraries, and professional/scientific organizations.professional/scientific organizations.