Chapter 5: The Chapter 5: The EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Section I: Philosophy in the Section I: Philosophy in the Age of Reason Age of Reason

Prior to the Enlightenment era, the Prior to the Enlightenment era, the Church and members of nobility Church and members of nobility made decisions as to what was made decisions as to what was acceptable and proper in terms of acceptable and proper in terms of society and government.society and government.

Soon people began to realize that Soon people began to realize that through the use of through the use of reasonreason, people in , people in government could solve every social, government could solve every social, political, and economic problem.political, and economic problem.

I. Scientific Revolution I. Scientific Revolution Sparks the Sparks the

EnlightenmentEnlightenmentA. A. Natural LawNatural Law – Laws of conduct – Laws of conduct

discoverable by reason.discoverable by reason. Science proved that there were natural Science proved that there were natural

laws that covered gravity, and magnetism. laws that covered gravity, and magnetism. Therefore, they should be able to use Therefore, they should be able to use

natural laws to better understand social, natural laws to better understand social, economic, and political problems.economic, and political problems.

Great thinkers reasoned that if science Great thinkers reasoned that if science could solve scientific problems, then those could solve scientific problems, then those same methods could be used to solve other same methods could be used to solve other types of issues types of issues

The Scientific Revolution The Scientific Revolution led to a new era of led to a new era of thinking called thinking called The The Enlightenment EraEnlightenment Era – A new era of – A new era of thought where people thought where people used science and used science and reasoning to answer reasoning to answer questions about many questions about many issues facing issues facing people..rather than people..rather than leaning on nobility or leaning on nobility or clergy to solve issues.clergy to solve issues.

II. Hobbes and Locke have II. Hobbes and Locke have Conflicting ViewsConflicting Views

A.A. Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes – Enlightenment – Enlightenment era thinker and author of era thinker and author of “Leviathan”.“Leviathan”.

Said that people were naturally Said that people were naturally greedy, cruel, and selfish and if greedy, cruel, and selfish and if they were not strictly they were not strictly controlled they would fight, controlled they would fight, rob, and oppress one another. rob, and oppress one another.

He further stated that without He further stated that without strong leadership life would be strong leadership life would be “brutish”“brutish”

Social ContractSocial Contract – An – An agreement where people agree agreement where people agree to give up certain freedoms to to give up certain freedoms to live in an organized society.live in an organized society.

Hobbes believed that only a Hobbes believed that only a powerful government could powerful government could ensure and orderly society.ensure and orderly society.

ExampleExample: An Absolute Monarchy : An Absolute Monarchy where order would be imposed and where order would be imposed and obedience demanded.obedience demanded.

B. B. John LockeJohn Locke – Enlightenment – Enlightenment era thinker and author of era thinker and author of “Two Treaties of “Two Treaties of Government”.Government”.

Argued that people form Argued that people form governments to protect their governments to protect their natural rights.natural rights.

Natural RightsNatural Rights – Rights that – Rights that belonged to humans from belonged to humans from birth.birth.

Believed that the best form of Believed that the best form of government was had limited government was had limited power and was accepted by power and was accepted by all citizens. all citizens.

Did not believe in an Absolute Did not believe in an Absolute Monarchy.Monarchy.

Had radical ideas…Had radical ideas… Government has an obligation Government has an obligation

to the people they govern.to the people they govern. If government fails to protect If government fails to protect

the natural rights then the the natural rights then the people have the right to people have the right to overthrow the government.overthrow the government.

Locke’s ideas would be a Locke’s ideas would be a major part of the American major part of the American Revolution.Revolution.

III. The PhilosophesIII. The Philosophes

Philosophes Philosophes – – Enlightenment era Enlightenment era thinkers who thinkers who believed they could believed they could apply the methods apply the methods of science to of science to understand and understand and improve society.improve society.

A. Montesquieu Advances A. Montesquieu Advances the Idea of Separation the Idea of Separation

of Powersof Powers1. 1. Baron de MontesquieuBaron de Montesquieu – – Early and influential Early and influential thinker of the thinker of the enlightenment era.enlightenment era.

2.2. Author of Author of The Spirit of The Spirit of the Lawsthe Laws - Discussion of - Discussion of governments throughout governments throughout history.history.

felt the best way to protect felt the best way to protect liberty was to divide the liberty was to divide the various functions and various functions and powers of the government powers of the government among three branches among three branches (legislative, executive, and (legislative, executive, and judicial).judicial).

Each branch should serve Each branch should serve as a check on the other as a check on the other two.two.

This book became a very This book became a very strong part of the strong part of the foundation of American foundation of American democracy.democracy.

B. Voltaire Defends B. Voltaire Defends Freedom of ThoughtFreedom of Thought

Voltaire = Francois-Voltaire = Francois-

Marie ArouetMarie Arouet Used his pen to voice Used his pen to voice

his sharp wit to attack his sharp wit to attack unjust governments. unjust governments. Attacked what he Attacked what he thought was unfair in thought was unfair in society.society.

Angered the French Angered the French government and government and Catholic Church..was Catholic Church..was imprisoned and imprisoned and eventually exiled from eventually exiled from France.France.

Regarded as one of the Regarded as one of the most influential of the most influential of the philosophes.philosophes.

Philosophers of the Enlightenment VPhilosophers of the Enlightenment Video Clipideo Clip (3:23)(3:23)

C. Dierdot Edits the C. Dierdot Edits the EncyclopediaEncyclopedia

1. 1. Denis DierdotDenis Dierdot – Wrote a 28 volume of – Wrote a 28 volume of books known as the Encyclopedia.books known as the Encyclopedia.

contained articles by leading contained articles by leading thinkers of the timesthinkers of the times

The French government claimed The French government claimed the book was an attack on public the book was an attack on public morals and the Catholic Church morals and the Catholic Church threatened to excommunicate threatened to excommunicate Catholics who read it.Catholics who read it.

D. Rousseau Promotes the D. Rousseau Promotes the Social ContractSocial Contract

John-Jacques John-Jacques RousseauRousseau – – Believed that people Believed that people in their natural state in their natural state are basically good.are basically good.

BUT they eventually BUT they eventually became corrupted became corrupted by the evils of by the evils of society.society.

Believed that the Believed that the good of society good of society should be above should be above individual interests.individual interests.

IV. New Economic IV. New Economic ThinkingThinking

A.A. PhysiocratsPhysiocrats – French Philosophes who – French Philosophes who focused their energies on economic focused their energies on economic reforms based on natural law.reforms based on natural law.

B.B. Laissez Faire Replaces Mercantilism Laissez Faire Replaces Mercantilism * * laissez fairelaissez faire – French term that – French term that

loosely means “Let the people do as they loosely means “Let the people do as they wish”.wish”.

* during this era it meant to allow * during this era it meant to allow businesses to operate with little or no businesses to operate with little or no interference.interference.

C. Smith Argues for a Free C. Smith Argues for a Free MarketMarket

What is supply and DeWhat is supply and Demand Video Clipmand Video Clip (5:58) (5:58)

Adam SmithAdam Smith – – Scottish economist Scottish economist who believed in the who believed in the ideas of a free market ideas of a free market system.system.

Author of “Author of “The The Wealth of NationsWealth of Nations”.”.

Believed that the free Believed that the free market should be market should be allowed to regulate allowed to regulate business activity.business activity.

Tried to show how Tried to show how supply and demandsupply and demand controlled controlled manufacturing, trade, manufacturing, trade, profits, and economic profits, and economic growth.growth.

He supported laissez He supported laissez faire, but said that faire, but said that government had the government had the duty to protect society duty to protect society and administer justice.and administer justice.

Section II: Enlightenment Section II: Enlightenment Ideas Spread Ideas Spread

Paris, France was Paris, France was the heart of the the heart of the Enlightenment and Enlightenment and the ideas birthed the ideas birthed there spread there spread throughout Europe throughout Europe and the rest of the and the rest of the world..world..

I. New Ideas Challenge I. New Ideas Challenge SocietySociety

Thinkers around the world read Thinkers around the world read Dierdo’s “Dierdo’s “EncyclopediaEncyclopedia” and the ” and the many pamphlets that floated many pamphlets that floated throughout Europe. throughout Europe.

During the Middle Ages, people During the Middle Ages, people blindly accepted what the Church blindly accepted what the Church taught as fact. taught as fact.

People now were questioning the People now were questioning the Church’s ideasChurch’s ideas

A. Writers Face A. Writers Face CensorshipCensorship

censorshipcensorship – Restricting access to ideas – Restricting access to ideas and information.and information.

Many government and church leaders felt Many government and church leaders felt obligated to protect and preserve the “old obligated to protect and preserve the “old order” or past ways of doing things.order” or past ways of doing things.

To do this, they banned or burned books To do this, they banned or burned books and even had Enlightenment Era writers and even had Enlightenment Era writers imprisoned.imprisoned.

Many writers of the era often hid their Many writers of the era often hid their lessons in works of fiction.lessons in works of fiction.

B. Ideas Spread in B. Ideas Spread in SalonsSalons

SalonsSalons – Informal – Informal social gatherings social gatherings of writers, artists, of writers, artists, philosophes and philosophes and others who others who exchanged ideas.exchanged ideas.

Middle class Middle class citizens could citizens could meet with nobility meet with nobility on equal ground to on equal ground to spread the ideas of spread the ideas of the the Enlightenment.Enlightenment.

II. Arts and Literature II. Arts and Literature Reflect New IdeasReflect New Ideas

A. From Grandeur to CharmA. From Grandeur to Charm BaroqueBaroque – Artistic style that features huge – Artistic style that features huge

colorful art in the Greek and Roman tradition.colorful art in the Greek and Roman tradition. glorified ancient battles and the lives of glorified ancient battles and the lives of

saints.saints. RococoRococo – Artistic style that was lighter, – Artistic style that was lighter,

brighter, and more elegant. brighter, and more elegant. Moved away from religious tones and into Moved away from religious tones and into

anything other than religious. Considered anything other than religious. Considered superficial by many, but still better than superficial by many, but still better than BaroqueBaroque

Baroque Vs RococoBaroque Vs Rococo

. Enlightenment Ideas . Enlightenment Ideas Inspire ComposersInspire Composers

Classical music – New Classical music – New musical style that musical style that came about and soon came about and soon dominated European dominated European life.life.

Johann Sebastian Johann Sebastian BachBach – German – German composer who wrote composer who wrote many operas and many operas and musical pieces.musical pieces.

Bach’s Influence on MBach’s Influence on Musicusic (3:38)(3:38)

Wolfgang Wolfgang Amadeus MozartAmadeus Mozart – Child prodigy – Child prodigy who became well who became well known throughout known throughout Europe. Europe.

The music of the The music of the composers of this composers of this era lives on today. era lives on today.

Mozart ClipMozart Clip (3:56)(3:56)

III. Enlightened Despots III. Enlightened Despots Embrace New IdeasEmbrace New Ideas

A.A. Enlightened DespotsEnlightened Despots – Absolute – Absolute rulers who used their powers to rulers who used their powers to bring about political and social bring about political and social change.change.

These Monarchs supported the These Monarchs supported the EnlightenmentEnlightenment

Others did not accept these ideas and Others did not accept these ideas and tried to stifle them. tried to stifle them.

B. Frederick II Attempts B. Frederick II Attempts ReformReform

Frederick IIFrederick II – Also – Also known as Frederick the known as Frederick the Great during his reign Great during his reign as King of Prussia. as King of Prussia.

Saw himself as a Saw himself as a servant of the stateservant of the state

Openly praised the Openly praised the writing of writing of Enlightenment thinkers Enlightenment thinkers even inviting them to even inviting them to visit with him.visit with him.

Desired a more strong Desired a more strong rule for himself rule for himself personally, but got rid personally, but got rid of torture and religious of torture and religious persecution in his persecution in his kingdoms.kingdoms.

C. Catherine the Great C. Catherine the Great Studies Philosophes Works Studies Philosophes Works

Empress of Russia in Empress of Russia in 17621762

LOVED the works of LOVED the works of Enlightenment Enlightenment authors..even authors..even exchanging exchanging correspondence.correspondence.

abolished torture, abolished torture, made limited reforms made limited reforms to laws and to laws and governments, governments, ordered religious ordered religious tolerance.tolerance.

STILL not interested STILL not interested in anything that in anything that limited her real limited her real power.power.

D. Joseph II Continues D. Joseph II Continues ReformReform

Monarch of Austria who traveled in disguise Monarch of Austria who traveled in disguise in his own empire to learn of the problems in his own empire to learn of the problems of his people.of his people.

Supported religious equality for Protestants Supported religious equality for Protestants & Jews in his Catholic Empire.& Jews in his Catholic Empire.

Ended censorship by granting freedom of Ended censorship by granting freedom of press.press.

Brought Catholic Church under control..and Brought Catholic Church under control..and sold much of their properties.sold much of their properties.

abolished serfdomabolished serfdom Many of these reforms were abolished once Many of these reforms were abolished once

he died. he died.

IV. Lives of the Majority IV. Lives of the Majority Change SlowlyChange Slowly

Most Europeans were untouched by Most Europeans were untouched by middle class or nobility class…which middle class or nobility class…which were the smallest groups in society.were the smallest groups in society.

Most Europeans lived as peasantsMost Europeans lived as peasants By the late 1700’s and early 1800’s By the late 1700’s and early 1800’s

ideas of equality and social justice had ideas of equality and social justice had begun to creep into peasant villages.begun to creep into peasant villages.

Many peasants were actually not in a Many peasants were actually not in a hurry to make the changes that came hurry to make the changes that came about…why?about…why?