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The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment. Chapter 17 Part 1. “What is Enlightenment” by Immanuel Kant. Enlightenment is escape from humanity’s “self-imposed immaturity” and a long-overdue break with humanity’s self-imposed parental figure, the Catholic Church .

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The Enlightenment

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  1. The Enlightenment Chapter 17 Part 1

  2. “What is Enlightenment” by Immanuel Kant Enlightenment is escape from humanity’s “self-imposed immaturity” and a long-overdue break with humanity’s self-imposed parental figure, the Catholic Church. Coming of age meant “the determination and courage to think without the guidance of someone else.” as an individual. “I hear people clamor on all sides: Don’t argue! The officer says: Don’t argue, drill! The tax collector says: Don’t argue, pay! The pastor says: Don’t argue, believe.” Kant replied, “Dare to know! Have the courage to use your own intelligence.”

  3. An Overview of the 18c • Political History >>> Reform • Intellectual History Newtonian Physics Reason • Cultural History Individualism • Social History  Increased Literacy “Age of Aristocracy” • Economic History > Mercantilism to Capitalism

  4. 18c Politics • BRITAIN– Constitutional Monarchy • FRANCE Royal Absolutism (cultural and religious unity) • PRUSSIA, HABSBURG EMPIRE, RUSSIA“Enlightened Despotism” • OTTOMAN EMPIRE – traditional empire

  5. Main Tenets of the Enlightenment • Reason: Truth can be discovered through logic and reason. • Nature: Things that happened naturally were good and reasonable. • Happiness: People should find joy in life. • Progress: Society and Humankind can improve. • Liberty: People should have freedoms and protections like what had been granted in England. • Led by writers, professors, journalists, economists, scientists, and social reformers from the middle class and nobility (The Philosophes).

  6. William Blake’s Newton, 1795

  7. Rooted in the past • Renaissance – first break from the Medieval Church’s hold on education and thought • Reformation – questioned the Catholic Church • Scientific Revolution • Used reason and observations to understand the world • Critical spirit of the Scientific Revolution • The Glorious Revolution • Locke • England as the exemplar

  8. Centers of the Enlightenment

  9. The “Great Debate” Reason& Logic TraditionsandSuperstitions • rationalism • empiricism • tolerance • skepticism • Deism • nostalgia for the past • organized religions • irrationalism • emotionalism

  10. Early Spread of Ideas Coffeehouses Salons Academies Freemasons Marrying Books

  11. John Locke (1632-1704) • English • Experienced the Glorious Revolution • Wrote about Natural Rights • Life, Liberty, and Property • Said people had a contract with the government in which they had mutual obligations: • Gov’t protected rights of the people • People would act reasonably towards the gov’t • Tabla Rasa

  12. The Case of Jean Calais

  13. Voltaire (1694 – 1778) • French (nee Francois Marie Arouet) • Exiled to England • Criticized French institutions compared to English • Especially the idea of Freedom of Speech • Opponent of the Catholic Church • Freedom of Religion • Deist • Writer and Satirist • Candide

  14. Deism Sought to end fanaticism and intolerance Substitute human reason for the authority of the church Newton showed the world was rational so God must be rational as well. Not a formal movement like Lutheranism, Calvinism, or Anglicanism God as a watchmaker who starts it going, and lets it be.

  15. George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) Prussian born, moved to London. Famous for his oratorios (musical dramas performed in concert without staging) Baroque artist Famous while alive (unlike Bach) Most famous work is Messiah featuring “Hallelujah” chorus

  16. David Hume (1711-1776) • Skepticism – nothing can be known for certain • Accused of being an atheist • “religion grows out of hope or fear” • Attacked Descartes by saying that neither mind nor matter could be proven to exist with any certainty. • Influenced future philosophers (Kant, Montesquieu, and more) • Pioneered the essay form • Historian

  17. Montesquieu (1689-1755) • French noble (inherited a political position as the president of the Bordeaux parlement) • Persian Letters (1721) • Satire about Parisian morals, French society, and European religion. • Written under a pseudonym • Written as a Persian traveler (allowed him to comment on the absurdity of European customs and French practices) • Took a grand tour (admired England after his 2 years there).

  18. Montesquieu (1689-1755) • Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances • Legislative (makes laws) • Judicial (rules on laws) • Executive (enforces laws) • Major influence on the U.S. and French Constitutions • 3 forms of government • Republic (small states; virtue; moderation) • Monarchies (medium states; honor) • Despotism (large states; fear)

  19. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) • Prussian philosopher • Wrote on philosophy, ethics, law, aesthetics, anthropology, history, religion, and astronomy • Argued against the skepticism of Hume (who he claimed opened his eyes) • Critique of Pure Reason • Transcendental Idealism

  20. Denis Diderot (1713-1784) • Edited a collection of essays from a variety of great minds of the time. • The Encyclopedia • Banned • Claimed to summarize all the most advanced contemporary philosophical, scientific, and technical knowledge • Promote the idea that everyday applications of science could promote progress and alleviate all forms of human misery.

  21. Baruch Spinoza (1632-1677) Netherlands/Jewish Supported the idea of human reason as a way at looking at traditional thought Linked God and nature very closely Called on both Jews and Christians to read the Bible as an ancient book using their reason in finding meaning in it. Excommunicated from his synagogue.

  22. Moses Mendelsohn (1729-1786) German/ Jewish Argued for toleration You could combine religious loyalty with rational thinking Argued against excommunication

  23. Gotthold Lessing (1729-1781) • Writer of Nathan the Wise • Play with lead character modeled after Mendelssohn. • Nathan is Jewish merchant during the 4th crusade whose wife and children are murdered. • He later adopts a Christian daughter who he raises with all three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) • They are three versions of the “truth” • Religion is true only when it makes the believer virtuous

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