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The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment. The Thinkers. Aka: Age of Reason. Men and Women apply theories discovered during the Scientific Revolution upon the aspects of human society: Government, religion, economics, and education. ‘Man can know everything’…. Important Trends of the Enlightenment.

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The Enlightenment

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  1. The Enlightenment The Thinkers

  2. Aka: Age of Reason. • Men and Women apply theories discovered during the Scientific Revolution upon the aspects of human society: Government, religion, economics, and education. • ‘Man can know everything’…

  3. Important Trends of the Enlightenment • Methods of natural science should be used to examine and understand all aspects of life. • Everything was to be submitted to rational and critical thinking. • The scientific method could be used to study the laws of human society as well as the laws of nature. • It was possible for humans to create better societies and better people.

  4. John Locke

  5. J. LO.

  6. John Locke (J LO) • Held more positive view of life. • Man is reasonable, can learn from their mistakes, and rule him-self. • Man is free and equal with Natural Rights: Life, Liberty and Property. • Government is meant to protect the people, if not…overthrow it! • Wrote: Essay Concerning Human Understanding – Stated that governments are formed by contracts among free individuals.

  7. Why did the Enlightenment start in France? • French was the international language of the educated classes. • The level of censorship and repression was somewhat less than that in most of Europe. • French philosophes asked fundamental questions about the meaning of life, God, human nature, good and evil, and cause and effect. • French philosophes sought actively to influence the educated public.

  8. Voltaire

  9. Voltaire (the fighter of personal rights) • Named: Francois Marie Arouet. • ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ • Made many enemies through the various writings. • Criticized the Church, Government, and Nobles. • He fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of speech and religion. • Did not agree with Democracy. Thought the only proper form of government was an enlightened monarchy.

  10. “Ecrasez l’infame”

  11. Jean Jacque Rousseau

  12. Rousseau (Champion of Freedom) • society corrupts peoples natural goodness. • Freedom of man was crushed by the Strong (king, aristocrats) w/ their unjust laws. • “General Will” - long-term needs of the people can be correctly interpreted by a farseeing minority. (Used by Fascism in the 1930’s) • The best Government is one freely formed by the people. (direct democracy) - “Social Contract” - People allow Government to Govern.

  13. Baron de Montesquieu

  14. Baron de Montesquieu • Wrote: The Spirit of Laws • Government should be balanced among three groups: 1. King (Executive) 2. Parliament (Legislative) 3. Courts (Judicial) Montesquieu called this the Separation of Powers. • Wrote: The Persian Letters • Satire of French society through the eyes of a traveling Persian. • Intended to have the French question their political and cultural foundations.

  15. Paul D’Holbach • French German Philosopher, and author. • His Salon’s were exclusively male and challenging of the depths of Philosophy. • Wrote: System of Nature – Atheist view of nature and the universe.

  16. Pierre Bayle • French Philosopher • As a French Protestant, he advocated for separation of Church and State. • Wrote: Historical and Critical Dictionary – accepted fact is actually just opinion.

  17. Madame Du Chatelet • French mathematician, physicist, and author • Believed women’s limited contribution to science was the result of unequal education • Her translation and commentary of Newton’s Principia Mathematica is her crowing achievement.

  18. Marquis de Condorcet • French Philosopher, Mathematician and Political Scientist. • Wrote: Progress of the Human Mind - whichtracked nine stages of human development. • Idea – our past will show us the future; progress in natural sciences should be followed by progress in moral and political sciences; social evils result from ignorance and not a consequence of human nature.

  19. Immanuel Kant • German Philosopher (modern day Russia) • Great opponent of skepticism, he hoped to end an age of speculation. • Promoted the concept of freedom of the press.

  20. Moses Mendelssohn • German Jew • Believed that the state had no right to interfere with religious freedoms. (Jewish or other) • Reason could complement and strengthen religion

  21. Salons • Were ‘meetings’ established by socialite women. • philosophes, nobles, and members of the upper class often intermingled. • Because the Enlightenment was an upper-class movement, lower 3rd class or estate members were not invited.

  22. Affects of the Enlightenment: • Short Term: • Increased literacy or “book consumption” in France – for selected classes. • Increased illegal book trade. • Led to increasing doubt about the nature of politics, religion, society. • Long Term: • Provided Americans, the French and Latin America with the ideas of social and political revolution. (1770’s- 1820’s) • Continue to influence our modern democratic states. • Declaration of Independence • US Constitution • French Declaration of the Rights of Man

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