The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment

““Siecle de LumiereSiecle de Lumiere””

““The Century of LightThe Century of Light””

I. What was it?I. What was it?

Progressive, Progressive, Rationalistic, Humanistic Rationalistic, Humanistic worldviewworldview

Emerged out of the Emerged out of the Scientific Revolution and Scientific Revolution and culminated in the French culminated in the French RevolutionRevolution

Spokesmen = Rising Spokesmen = Rising Middle ClassMiddle Class

Paris = Center of Paris = Center of EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Western European FocusWestern European Focus Optimism about Optimism about

mankindmankind’’s abilitiess abilities

II. Key IdeasII. Key Ideas

Distrust of Tradition Distrust of Tradition and Revealed Religionand Revealed Religion

Scientific method Scientific method could be applied to could be applied to society as wellsociety as well

Society can get better Society can get better as risks are takenas risks are taken

Man is naturally goodMan is naturally good Good life is on earthGood life is on earth

III. An Attack on the Old III. An Attack on the Old RegimeRegime

A. The World of the Old A. The World of the Old RegimeRegime

Built on traditionBuilt on tradition World of hierarchy, World of hierarchy,

privilege and privilege and inequalityinequality

Allied with the Allied with the ChurchChurch

Challenged by the Challenged by the reform impulse of reform impulse of supporters of the supporters of the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

B. Conflict with the Capitalistic B. Conflict with the Capitalistic Middle ClassMiddle Class

Support for the Middle Support for the Middle Class social order Class social order against the traditional against the traditional social ordersocial order

Size and increasing Size and increasing power of the Middle power of the Middle ClassClass

New notion of wealthNew notion of wealth Tension and discord Tension and discord

created by the Middle created by the Middle ClassClass

IV. The PhilosophesIV. The Philosophes

1818thth century French century French intellectualsintellectuals

Interest in addressing a Interest in addressing a broad audiencebroad audience

Committed to reformCommitted to reform Celebrated the scientific Celebrated the scientific

revolutionrevolution The The ““Mystique of Mystique of

NewtonNewton”” Science applied to Science applied to

societysociety

VI. The Role of the SalonVI. The Role of the Salon

Protection and Protection and encouragement encouragement offered by French offered by French aristocratic women aristocratic women in their private in their private drawing roomsdrawing rooms

Feminine influence Feminine influence on the on the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Madame GeoffrinMadame Geoffrin

VIII. Famous Enlightenment VIII. Famous Enlightenment ThinkersThinkers

As the Enlightenment began, European thinkers began looking for ways to apply reason in order to improve the human condition.

• English philosopher, believed all people born equal

• Government should protect people’s natural rights– Monarchs not chosen by

God– Government by consent– Power limited by laws– Ideas foundation for

modern democracy

John Locke

New Views on Government

View of Government, Society

• Believed government should work for common good, not wealthy few

• Individuals should give up some freedoms for benefit of community

• Despised inequality in society

• Views inspired revolutionaries in years to come

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

• French philosopher, believed people basically good

• Believed society corrupted people

• Wrote The Social Contract, contract between all members of society

• “Man is born free but everywhere is in chains.”

Separation of powers

• Best form of government divided power among branches of government

• Separation of powers kept individual or group from abusing power

Checks and balances

• Misunderstood structure of British government, rational conclusion anyway

• Separation of powers allowed each branch to check against power of others

• Concept later important structure of democratic governments

The Spirit of the Laws

• Published 1748, showed admiration of Great Britain’s government• Powers divided into branches: legislative, executive, judicial• Parliament made laws, king carried out laws, courts interpreted

laws

Baron de Montesquieu

New Views on Society

Some Enlightenment philosophers focused on Some Enlightenment philosophers focused on government, others on issues in societygovernment, others on issues in society

Francois-Marie Arouet, wroteFrancois-Marie Arouet, wrote asas Voltaire Voltaire Outspoken philosopher, wrote with biting witOutspoken philosopher, wrote with biting wit

Attacked injustice among nobility, government, Attacked injustice among nobility, government, churchchurch

Created enemies, imprisoned twiceCreated enemies, imprisoned twice Exiled to England for two yearsExiled to England for two years Defended principles, fought superstition, Defended principles, fought superstition,

ignoranceignorance Lifelong struggle for justice, toleration, libertyLifelong struggle for justice, toleration, liberty

Diderot

• French philosopher

• Determined in mid-1700s to try to compile great expansion of human knowledge into a single work

Lifelong work

• Worked on Encyclopedia 27 years, last volume published 1772

• Spread Enlightenment ideas across Europe, North America

Encyclopedia

• Diderot’s extensive 35-volume work, to promote knowledge

• Explained new ideas about art, science, government, religion

Attacks by French leaders

• Criticisms of church, government, legal system

• Tried to stop publication, 1759

• Last volumes completed in secret, but immediate success

New Views on Society

Adam Smith

• Scottish economist, used reason to analyze economic systems

• Hated Mercantilism

• The Wealth of Nations advanced free market enterprise

• Strong believer in laissez-faire economics, no government regulation

• Believed economy would be stronger if market forces of supply and demand were allowed to work freely

Mary Wollstonecraft

• Enlightenment thinkers still held traditional views about women

• Proper roles wives, mothers; should receive limited education

• Wollstonecraft demanded equal rights for women

• A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, equal education for women

The spirit of optimism quickly spread throughout Europe. A few monarchs became enlightened despots, changing their systems of government and ruling according to Enlightenment ideas.

• Frederick II, had duty to rule with absolute power

• Also strongly influenced by ideas of Voltaire

• Built powerful military, introduced reforms

Prussia• Elementary

education for all children

• Abolished torture

• Supported most forms of religious tolerance

• Reduced censorship

Reforms • No religious

tolerance for Jews

• Opposed serfdom, did not abolish

• Did not make reforms to achieve justice but to make own rule more powerful

Limitations

The Enlightened Despots

Russia

• Catherine II became ruler, 1762• Dreamed of establishing order, justice, supporting education,

culture• Read works of, corresponded with Voltaire, Diderot

Limitations

• Intended to free serfs, but would lose support of wealthy landowners

• Catherine had no intention of giving up power• Became tyrant, imposed serfdom on more Russians than ever

before

Reforms

• Drafted Russian constitution, code of laws• Considered too liberal, never put into practice

Enlightenment Ideas Spread

Enlightenment Ideas Spread

Most radical enlightened despot, AustriaMost radical enlightened despot, Austria

Joseph II, became emperor 1780 Joseph II, became emperor 1780

Ambitious reform programAmbitious reform program

Eliminated torture, death penaltyEliminated torture, death penalty

Provided free food, medicine for poorProvided free food, medicine for poor

Granted religious tolerance to Protestants and Granted religious tolerance to Protestants and JewsJews

Abolished serfdom, laborers to be paid Abolished serfdom, laborers to be paid

Changes resisted by nobility, churchChanges resisted by nobility, church

When he died his son eliminated all of the programsWhen he died his son eliminated all of the programs

Challenged Beliefs• Writers, philosophers questioned ideas long held as absolute truth• Challenged beliefs in absolute monarchies• Questioned relationship between church and sate• Debated rules and rights of people in society• Promoted ideas reformers and revolutionaries would later use to change

society

• Belief in progress spurred many to enact reforms

• Believed reason could solve any problem, debated ways to make society more just

• Did not accept poverty, ignorance, inequality as facts of life

Reforms

Enlightenment Ideas Spread