ENLIGHTENMENT

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.

Lao Tzu

Objectives

Explain the ideas of the philosophes Connection to the Scientific Revolution

Analyze the impact of the sci. rev. on the Enlightenment Voltaire

Connections

Scientific Revolution

showed the power/success of human reason

People apply human reason to natural laws (laws that govern human nature)

led to - revolution in thinking = Enlightenment

Newton Last of the great figures of

the Sci. Rev. Or 1st in the Enlightenment

Newton’s laws were starting point for investigating everything in nature Used reason to solve:

social political economic problems

The Philosophes

Philosophes: lovers of wisdom Concentrated on:

Welfare of society Freedom of individual Happiness of humanity

Used reason to make reforms to government, law & society

Completely different ideas than the Absolute rulers of the time.

Think critically: HOW? Be able to give examples.

Philosophes’ Ideas

Nature Took Newton and other scientists’ ideas of natural

laws and applied them to social interaction economics and government.

Laissez faire & balance of powers

Reason Move toward liberty & away from intolerance &

prejudice

Other ideas Happiness:

Lived by nature’s laws, you would find happiness. No need to wait for happiness - heaven

Live in happiness, not misery!

Progress: Belief society & humankind could be perfected Using science

Liberty: Believed that society could be set free. Liberty is necessary to be happy

Voltaire Criticized Fr. gov’t,

laws, and Christianity Was locked in the Bastille

(French jail) & was exiled

Most famous writing: Candide, Satire – use of wit and sarcasm to

criticize Prejudice Inequality injustice Gov. & laws basically everything he

didn’t like

Hobbes vs Locke

Right of Rebellion People - no right to

rebel against their govt.

Human Nature Humans are wicked

so they must be protected

Naturally cruel, selfish

If not controlled = fight & steal

Right of Rebellion People oppressed

by their govt. every right to rebel

Human Nature Humans are

reasonable so they can make good decisions about how to govern

Free will Obedience because

it is right not out of fear

Hobbes vs Locke

Role of Government Govts. protect ppl

from their own wickedness & selfishness

Role of Monarch One ruler should

have absolute power to keep society from falling into disorder

Role of Government Govts. protect 3 basic

rights Life, liberty & property

Role of Monarch The ruler has a duty

to protect these basic rights

Hobbes – Social Contract

Agreement B/w the leader & his people Give up rights for

Protection Organized society

How does this apply to governments today Give up taxes and freedom For security

Montesquieu (1689-1755)

The Best government:► Separate the powers of the Govt.

►ensured freedom & liberty.►Legislative: make laws►Executive: enforce laws►Judicial: interpret laws

► Politically balanced

►Checks & balances: (each branch serves as a check on the other branches)

►“Power should be a check to power”

Rousseau (1712-1778)► Individual Freedom

►People are naturally good►innocence was corrupted by

the evils of society

► “Men are born free, and everywhere he is in chains.”

► The Social Contract, 1762.►Agreement among free individuals►Hobbes: society & government

► The best government►Formed by the people►Consent of the governed

►Direct democracy

Beccaria

Italian Philosophe

Laws exist to preserve order NOT to avenge crimes

Criticized abuses of justice Accused should have

Speedy trial Punishment should fit the crime Never torture

Mary Wollstonecraft

Philosophes challenged assumptions But: Traditional view toward women Education: teach how to be wife &

mother

Wollstonecraft Increased Rights for Women Education for Women = Men Women Should enter male-dominated

fields Politics & medicine

Questions What is government supposed to ensure? What are the 3 branches of govt & what

do each do? Rousseau believed people were naturally

what? What did Rousseau write and his idea of

the best form of government? Beccaria believed laws existed for what

purpose and if you were in trouble with the law, what 3 things should you get?

What did Wollstonecraft fight for?

To Do: Write these questions down, write your answer to each question and be ready to discuss tomorrow

Security vs. Freedom Are you willing to give up any Freedoms in Exchange for

better protection from terrorism?

The police believe a person has brought a gun to school. Would you allow the police to search your school bag & lockers?

A person takes books out of the library on bomb making. What should the librarian do?

Several Mid. Eastern males are boarding a plane at O’Hare airport. Should they have to go through extra security?

Salons Wealthy wmn held mtgs

in their homes Philosophes discussed

ideas

Marie-Therese Geoffrin Was a “patron” to the

thinkers

So why are they important? Gave Enlightenment

thinkers a place to share ideas

Provided Enlightenment thinkers w/support

Denis Diderot (1713-1784)

► All things must be examined, debated, investigated w/o exception & w/o regard for anyone’s feelings.

► We will speak against senseless laws until they are reformed.

Diderot’s Encyclopédie

Created 28 vol. Encyclopedia Gathered articles on human

knowledge Articles by thinkers of the

day against slavery urged for education for all praised freedom of expression

Widely denounced by govts & church

Despotism

Form of govt by which a single entity rules w/ absolute & unlimited power

Many philosophes believed best govt was: Monarchy Respected people’s rights

Try to convince rulers to rule justly

Enlightened Despots

Enlightened Despots Embraced new ideas Made reforms

True Reformers? Just wanted their countries to be stronger

Montesquieu & Despotism

The diff. b/w monarchy & despotism:

Monarchy - a single person governs by fixed and established laws

Despot - governs by his own will

Enlightened Despots

Fredrick the Great - Ruled Prussia

Committed to reform Religious freedom Reduced censorship Increased education Abolished torture “the first servant of the state

Changes only went so far Serfdom wrong But didn’t end it Needed support of the nobles

Catherine the Great - Ruled Russia

Formed commission to review laws

Religious toleration Abolishing torture Abolishing capital

punishment

Changes only went so far

Commission accomplished none of the goals

Did nothing to change life of peasants

After a revolt – she gave noble absolute power over them

The “Great Debate”

Reason& Logic Traditions

e justice

e tolerance

e Liberty

e Absolute monarchy

e Religion - church

e habit

VS

The Legacy of the Enlightenment?

1.Belief in Progress Opened door for growth in sci.

New discoveries

Confidence that humans could solve social probs

2.More secular society (non-religious) Openly question church

Promote tolerance of all religions

The Legacy of the Enlightenment?3. Importance of the individual

Use own ability to reason to judge right & wrong

Turn away from the church Art, literature, & music offered new

expressions & sounds: Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn

YouTube - Beethoven Symphony No.9

YouTube - Bach, Toccata and Fugue in D minor, organ4. Revolutions democratic revs begun in America in

1776 & in Paris in the late 1780s