TAKE A DO NOW THESIS

The Age of Reason

Enlightenment thinkers were known as philosophes

Believed in supremacy of human reason

Logic and Reason

Challenged Royal and Church Authority

End of the “Old Regime”

The achievements of the scientific The achievements of the scientific revolution reveal the ability of the revolution reveal the ability of the human mind to penetrate the secrets of human mind to penetrate the secrets of the physical universethe physical universe

The thinkers of the enlightenment sought to The thinkers of the enlightenment sought to discover NATURAL LAWS “laws that govern discover NATURAL LAWS “laws that govern human nature”.human nature”.

The Enlightenment began in ParisThe Enlightenment began in Paris

It was divided into three phasesIt was divided into three phases

First, reflects a significant influence from the scientific revolution.

Second, the High Enlightenment begins with Montesquieu and ends with the death of Voltaire and Rousseau.

The third phase, called the late enlightenment, shifts emphasis from human reason to emotion.

Discussed new concepts of economy by Adam Smith

VOLTAIREVOLTAIRE

                      

Enlightened thinkers espoused views that challenged basic educational, historical and governmental tenets

Leading thinkers were French, more like critics of the old regime.

Felt people should be ruled by laws not by, rulers.

                      

Human progress was constrained by social and political institutions

If we could find laws to govern the physical world, why not use reason to discover natural laws.

Laws that govern human nature

The enlightenment is where we get the ideas:

People should be ruled by lawsPeople should be ruled by laws

Separation of powersSeparation of powers

Rulers need to take care of the Rulers need to take care of the people

The “Great Debate”

Reason& LogicReason& Logic

Traditionsand

Superstitions

Traditionsand

Superstitions

e rationalismrationalisme empiricismempiricisme tolerancetolerancee skepticismskepticisme DeismDeism

e nostalgia nostalgia for the for the pastpast

e organized organized religionsreligions

e irrationalisirrationalismm

e emotionalisemotionalismm

French Aristocrat Wanted to establish

a constitutional Monarchy in France

Wrote the book - The Spirit of the Laws in 1748

Separation of Powers - 3 Branches of Gov’t Executive Legislative Judicial

Checks and Balances each checks the power

of the other Power shouldn’t rest

in on person

Bourgeouis - French

Lived in exile in Great Britain

Wrote Letters on the English praised tolerance in

both and religion

Civil Liberties - Ecrasez l’infame (crush infamy) rid of repression,

fanaticism and bigotry

Attacked church and Parliament as blocking development and freedom

Religious Freedom Deist God created the

universe and then let it operate under scientific laws

Made life livable Did a public service

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”

Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Expression

David Hume (1711-1776)

► The Natural The Natural History of History of Religion Religion [][][[(1755]).[[(1755]).

► Belief in God Belief in God rested on rested on superstition superstition and fear and fear rather than on rather than on reason.reason.

Lower-class origin New theory of

education children must

develop naturally and spontaneously

learn by direct experience

The General Will “man is born free, and

everywhere he is in chains.” Social Contract “THE SOCIAL CONTRACT”

people entered into a social among themselves

surrender all their rights to the community

General Will the will of the majority

Government is a necessary evil if it does not carry out

the General will the people can overthrow it

Popular Sovereignty ultimate sovereignty

resides in the people

Diderot’s Encyclopédie

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

► First published in 1751.First published in 1751.

► 1500 1500 livreslivres a set. a set.

Highly Educated Editor of “The The

Encyclopedia”Encyclopedia”virtually all

important French philosophes contributed

Articles attacked Old Regime abuses religious

intolerance unjust taxation governmental

absolutism

Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedie

Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedie

Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedie

Father of Modern Economics

Believed in Capitalism The Invisible Hand Competition will

regulate the economy

laissez-faire policy No Government

intervention Hands-off

Women played an important role

Rich women held gatherings in their drawing rooms, or salons

Writers, musicians, painters, and philosophes exchanged ideas

Madame Geoffrin’s Salon

The Salonnieres

Madame Madame GeoffrinGeoffrin

(1699-1777)(1699-1777)MademoiselleMademoiselle

Julie de Julie de LespinasseLespinasse

(1732*-1776)(1732*-1776)

MadameMadameSuzanne Suzanne NeckerNecker

(1739-1794)(1739-1794)

Other Female Salons

► Wealthy Jewish women created Wealthy Jewish women created nine of the fourteen salons in nine of the fourteen salons in Berlin.Berlin.

► In Warsaw, Princess Zofia In Warsaw, Princess Zofia Czartoryska gathered around Czartoryska gathered around her the reform leaders of her the reform leaders of Poland-Lithuania.Poland-Lithuania.

► Middle-class women in London Middle-class women in London used their salons to raise money used their salons to raise money to publish women’s writings.to publish women’s writings.