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THE PHILOSOPHES OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT
Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Diderot
VOLTAIRE (1694-1778)Famous Works Philosophical Dictionary 1764:
This encyclopedic dictionary was a life long project for Voltaire. It represents a culmination of his views on Christianity, God, and morality among other subjects
Fanaticism -or- Mahomed the Prophet:A five act tragedy where Voltaire expresses his views on Islam, portraying the religion as another example of religious fanaticism. Voltaire himself described the play as “written in opposition to the founder or a false and barbarous sect.”
Epitaph
VOLTAIRE, CONT.
Born on November 21st 1694 to Francois Arouet and Marie
Marguerite.
Voltaire family belonged to the upper-middle class
He developed a close relationship to his godfather, the
Abbé de Châteauneuf, a freethinker and epicurean.
Voltaire studied the Jesuits College Louis-le-Grand in Paris.
Arouet, his father sent him off to Caen, France.
Voltaire in 1713 returned to Paris and was contracted as a
lawyer.
VOLTAIRE (CONT.)
Friends and Enemies in High Places Voltaire was respected by many other
philosophes of the time, including Rousseau, Diderot, and Countess Emile de Chatelat whom he later took as a lover. He was also favored by enlightened absolutists like Catherine the Great.
However, his political and scientific writings soured his relationships with Louis XVI of France and later, Frederick the Great.
VOLTAIRE (CONT.)
Core beliefs Religious toleration Contributions to freedom of speech and press Opposed to militarism and slavery Deism Against
Voltaire is remembered as a philosophe who courageously fought for civil rights in France like the freedom of speech, free trial, and religion. He was known fro denouncing the injustices of the Ancien Regime like the imbalance of power and taxes. His most important project that he worked on was the defending of empirical science.
MONTESQUIEU (1689-1755) Charles-Louis de Secondat Baron de
Montesquieu was born on January 18, 1689 to a wealthy, noble family.
As a child, he was educated at the Oratorian Collége de Juilly. He received a degree in law from the University of Bordeaux in 1708.
He pursued a career in law in Paris until the death of his father in 1713.
He married Jeanne de Lartique in 1715, and over the course of their marriage, they had two daughters and a son.
In 1716, his uncle died, and he received the title of Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu, as well as a position in the Parlement of Bordeaux.
He became famous with his writing of the Persian Letters, though he published them anonymously.
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His writings inspired Royals and commoners alike.
MONTESQUIEU CONTINUED
Friends/Enemies He admired John Locke and Isaac Newton in
his teachings. Pope Benedict XVI respected him Many bishops did not like him or his beliefs
Most Famous Works The Persian Letters (1721)
Letters from Usbek and Rica The Spirit of Laws (1748)
Explains social institutions and human laws
MONTESQUIEU CONTINUED
Core Beliefs All things are made up of rules or laws that never change A government that was elected by the people is the best
kind of governmentLasting Impact & Influence Division of power in the government
Executive = KingLegislative = Parliament
Judicial = The Courts British constitution – wisest model for regulating power
of the government “No single set of political laws could apply to all peoples
at all times and in all places” He died in 1755 from a fever.
ROUSSEAU Impacts/Influence: Rousseau’s idea
of a “social contract” is studied in almost all modern government classes.
The theory supports the idea that people make agreements with each other and with their government for the sake of forming safe societies will relative freedom
Rousseau also promoted the idea of democracy, in which all citizens vote on every issue.
Epitaph
ROUSSEAU: BACKGROUND STORY Born to Isaac Rousseau and Suzanna Bernard in
Geneva 1712 Raise solely by his father until he had to flee from
Gevena Worked as an engraver under a “tyrannical” master Moved to Paris to become a musician and composer Married Therese Levasseur with who he had 5
children Because of his growing popularity in composition he
gave up his job as a composer Wrote Discourse on the Arts and Science in response
to The Academy of Dijon’s question which inspired his career in philosophy
ROUSSEAU: CORE BELIEFS
In the State of Nature everyone is Free Inequality only exists when humans are put
into a society Men and Women should live in two separate
“spheres” Females are less equal than males and should accept their position
Individual is subservient to society
ROUSSEAU: WRITINGS AND THEIR MESSAGES
Discourse on the Arts and Sciences Progression of arts and sciences has corrupted
virtue and morality Discourse on the Origin of Inequality
Human beings are basically good by nature, but complex historical events have resulted in present-day corrupt society.
Much of the evil in the world is caused by uneven distribution of property
The Social Contract People give up their rights
DIDEROT Background info Diderot was born in Langres
Champagne on October 5 1713 He was disowned by his father
when he refused to enter one of the “learned” professions
Though his work was broad and rigorous it never achieved commercial success as a result he was forced to sell the contents of his library in order to pay for his daughters dowry. But Catherine the Great bought all of it so if mostly turned out ok in the end
Diderot died in in Paris on July 31 1784 of pulmonary thrombosis.
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DIDEROT: FRIENDS AND ENEMIES IN HIGH PLACES
Upon first moving to France, Diderot befriended Jean Jacques Rousseau
A famous mathematician, Jean D’ Alembert. agreed to edit Diderot’s encyclopedia
Voltaire offered to publish Diderot’s encyclopedia outside of France due to Parlement banning it
Empress Catherine the Great commissioned him after he lost a majority of his wealth
Several other famous philosophers collaborated with him on his encyclopedia
The Parlement banned his encyclopedia due to its radical and secular ideas
DIDEROT CONTINUED
Core Beliefs and Writings Edited Encyclopedia of arts and sciences
along with Jean-le-Round d’Alembert Embodies the ideals of Enlightenment Diderot originally helped edited the Cyclopedia
by Ephraim Chambers Inspired him to develop the Encyclopedia
He gathered leading philosophes together
Enlightenment= Intellectual Movement Challenge authority of church
“all knowledge could be acquired through scientific experimentation and the exercise of reason.”
DIDEROT CONTINUED
Impact/Influence Plant the seed for revolutionary thoughts Present information to all people and invite them
to think, become knowledgeable, and ask questions
Informed people that they can change things that they do not agree with by supporting social and political reform
Pioneer a new way to think emphasizing reason Inspire many of his intellectual peers/admirers to
publish their thoughts Ultimately inspired the French Revolution and the
American Revolution
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