Leading to war….Leading to war….

The Age of The Age of Reason & Reason &

EnlightenmEnlightenmentent

The Age of The Age of Reason & Reason &

EnlightenmEnlightenmentent

An Overview of the 18c

► Political History Political History >>> >>> Reform

► Intellectual History Intellectual History Reason

► Cultural History Cultural History Individualism

► Social History Social History Increased Literacy “Age of Aristocracy”

► Economic History Economic History Mercantilism to Capitalism

The Origins of Enlightenment

► SCIENTIFICSCIENTIFIC::

Newton’s system was Newton’s system was synonymoussynonymouswith the empirical and the with the empirical and the practical.practical.

Scientific laws could be Scientific laws could be expressed expressed as universal mathematical as universal mathematical formulas.formulas.

Science allowed alternatives Science allowed alternatives to beto beimagined in everything from imagined in everything from politicspoliticsto religion.to religion.

Zoology & Biology

A dissection at the Royal A dissection at the Royal Academy, London.Academy, London.

Chemistry Labs & Botany Gardens

Natural History Collections

► Cocoa plant Cocoa plant drawing.drawing.

► Sir Hans Sir Hans SloaneSloane(1660-1753).(1660-1753).

► Collected from Collected from Jamaica.Jamaica.

Private Collections

The Origins of Modern The Origins of Modern Museums.Museums.

The Origins of Enlightenment► RELIGIOUSRELIGIOUS::

an attempt an attempt (inspired by science) to (inspired by science) to explain God’s Providence explain God’s Providence by reference to his by reference to his work work in naturein nature & not primarily & not primarily through his biblical Word.through his biblical Word.

support of a “rational” support of a “rational” religion, free from religion, free from mysteries, miracles, and mysteries, miracles, and superstitions. superstitions.

The Origins of Enlightenment► RELIGIOUSRELIGIOUS::

DeismDeism

V The belief in the existence of The belief in the existence of a God or supreme being but a God or supreme being but aadenial of revealed religion, denial of revealed religion, basingbasingone’s belief on theone’s belief on the lightlight of of naturenatureand reasonand reason..

Deists saw no point in any Deists saw no point in any particularparticularreligion; they recognized only religion; they recognized only a a distant Goddistant God, uninvolved in , uninvolved in the daily life of man.the daily life of man.

The “Great Debate”

Reason& LogicReason& Logic

Traditionsand

Superstitions

Traditionsand

Superstitions

rationalismrationalism tolerancetolerance skepticismskepticism

nostalgia for nostalgia for the the pastpast

organized organized religionsreligions

irrationalismirrationalism emotionalismemotionalism

John Locke (1632-1704)

► Letter on Letter on TolerationToleration, , 16891689

► Two Treatises Two Treatises ofofGovernmentGovernment, , 16901690

► Some ThoughtsSome ThoughtsConcerningConcerningEducationEducation, , 16931693

► The The ReasonablenessReasonablenessof Christianityof Christianity, , 16951695

John Locke’s Philosophy (I)

► The individual must become a The individual must become a “rational“rationalcreature.”creature.”

► Virtue can be learned and practiced.Virtue can be learned and practiced.► Human beings possess free will.Human beings possess free will.

they should be prepared for they should be prepared for freedom.freedom.

obedience should be out of obedience should be out of conviction,conviction,not out of fear.not out of fear.

► Legislators owe their power to aLegislators owe their power to a contractcontract with the peoplewith the people..

► Neither kings nor wealth are Neither kings nor wealth are divinely ordained.divinely ordained.

John Locke’s Philosophy (II)

► There are certain natural There are certain natural rights that are endowed by rights that are endowed by God to all human beings.God to all human beings.

life, liberty, property!life, liberty, property!

► The doctrine of the Divine The doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings was Right of Kings was nonsense.nonsense.

► He favored a republic as the He favored a republic as the best form of government.best form of government.

Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

► Common Common SenseSense, 1776, 1776

► The Rights The Rights of Manof Man, , 17911791

The American “Philosophers”

John AdamsJohn Adams(1745-(1745-1826)1826)

Ben FranklinBen Franklin(1706-1790)(1706-1790)

ThomasThomasJeffersonJefferson(1743-(1743-1826)1826)

……...…life, liberty, and the pursuit of ...…life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…………...happiness…………...

The Encyclopédie

► Complete cycle of Complete cycle of knowledge…………...…knowledge…………...…change the general way of change the general way of thinking.thinking.

► 28 volumes.28 volumes.

► Alphabetical, cross-referenced,Alphabetical, cross-referenced,illustrated.illustrated.

► First published in 1751.First published in 1751.

► 1500 1500 livreslivres a set a set..

Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedie

Reading During the Enlightenment

►Literacy:

80% - 60% women.80% - 60% women.

►Books were expensive Books were expensive (one day’s wages).(one day’s wages).

An Increase in Reading

The Legacy of the Enlightenment

1.1.The democratic revolutions The democratic revolutions begun in America in 1776 and begun in America in 1776 and continued in Amsterdam, continued in Amsterdam, Brussels, and especially in Brussels, and especially in Paris in the late 1780s, put Paris in the late 1780s, put every Western government on every Western government on the defensive.the defensive.2.2.Reform, democracy, and Reform, democracy, and republicanism had been republicanism had been placed irrevocably on the placed irrevocably on the Western agenda.Western agenda.