Scientific RevolutionPtolemeic geocentricism Ptolemeic geocentricism challenged by new challenged by new mathematical modelsmathematical modelsScientists sought laws in Scientists sought laws in nature to explain the nature to explain the movements in the movements in the heavens & on Earth.heavens & on Earth.Nicolaus Copernicus Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) used (1473-1543) used mathematics to prove a mathematics to prove a heliocentric (sun-heliocentric (sun-centered) cosmoscentered) cosmosJohannes Kepler (1571-Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) 1630)

Galileo Galileo

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) improved the telescope to view heavenly bodies more clearly.“And yet it moves” was Galileo’s response to traditionalists1616 – Inquisition authorities condemned Copernicus’ theory.1633 – Publishes Dialogue on the Great World Systems: Galileo put on trial by the Inquisition. Galileo recants

Isaac Newton (1642-1727)Isaac Newton (1642-1727)

Newton develops Newton develops theory of gravity, theory of gravity, invents calculus invents calculus (simultaneously with (simultaneously with Leibnitz) Leibnitz)

After Newton, After Newton, people could people could conceive of a conceive of a universe without a universe without a God.God.

Scientific Revolution,Scientific Revolution, con’t. con’t.

Bacon (1561-1625)—Inductive MethodBacon (1561-1625)—Inductive Method Descartes (1596-1650)—Deductive MethodDescartes (1596-1650)—Deductive Method Newton (1642-1727) —Theory of GravityNewton (1642-1727) —Theory of Gravity

– A body moves in a straight line unless impededA body moves in a straight line unless impeded– Every Action has equal and opposite reactionEvery Action has equal and opposite reaction– Every body attracts every other body with a Every body attracts every other body with a

force proportional to the distance betweenforce proportional to the distance between Royal Society of London for Improving Royal Society of London for Improving

Natural Knowledge (1626)Natural Knowledge (1626) French Royal Academy of Science (1666)French Royal Academy of Science (1666) International Community of ScholarsInternational Community of Scholars

Significance of Scientific Significance of Scientific RevolutionRevolution

Newton’s idea: Universe as a Great Clock Newton’s idea: Universe as a Great Clock with God as Clockmakerwith God as Clockmaker

Alexander Pope— “Nature and Nature laws Alexander Pope— “Nature and Nature laws lay hid in night; God said, ‘let Newton lay hid in night; God said, ‘let Newton be’ and all was light”be’ and all was light”

Insistence on Reason and LogicInsistence on Reason and LogicHuman Reason as a Source of KnowledgeHuman Reason as a Source of KnowledgePrelude to the EnlightenmentPrelude to the Enlightenment

Enlightenment

Voltaire (1694-1778)

An intellectual movement that applied the insights of the Scientific Revolution to the wider world: to politics, to religion, and to art. It hoped to remake society in accordance with the values of reason, toleration, and natural law. PhilosophesPhilosophes

Montesquieu, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Diderot, Rousseau, Diderot, Rousseau, SmithSmith

Ancien Regime: Ancien Regime: A reminderA reminder

CharacteristicsCharacteristics Political: absolutismPolitical: absolutism Economics: mercantilismEconomics: mercantilism Social Structure: hierarchicalSocial Structure: hierarchical Religion: established Religion: established

churcheschurches

What is the Enlightenment?What is the Enlightenment?

1818thth Century Century

““Age of Reason”Age of Reason”

An Intellectual movementAn Intellectual movement

Began in Paris, spread throughout Began in Paris, spread throughout EuropeEurope

A time of questioning established A time of questioning established and traditional institutionsand traditional institutions

TermsTerms

Reason and rationalityReason and rationality

PhilosophesPhilosophesRepublic of LettersRepublic of Letters

Idea of progressIdea of progress

Salons and CoffeehousesSalons and Coffeehouses

Voltaire and TolerationVoltaire and Toleration

Diderot and Natural LawDiderot and Natural Law

Rousseau and General WillRousseau and General Will

Enlightenment venues

SalonsAcademiesMasonic lodgesNewspapersCoffee houses“Public opinion”Forbidden literature

An 18th Century English Coffee House

Who where the leaders of this Who where the leaders of this Intellectual Movement?Intellectual Movement?

The intellectuals were known by the The intellectuals were known by the French term French term philosophesphilosophes

They were literary peopleThey were literary people Came from both nobility and the middle Came from both nobility and the middle

classclass The French The French philosophesphilosophes influenced influenced

intellectuals and created a movement intellectuals and created a movement that affected the entire western world that affected the entire western world including the colonies in Americaincluding the colonies in America

The nation of philosophes called The nation of philosophes called “Republic of Letters” was an informal “Republic of Letters” was an informal international intellectual communityinternational intellectual community

Anicet Charles Lemonnier, Madame Geoffrin‘s Salon in 1755 (1812)

Franz Anton Mesmer magnetizing a distraught patient, ca. 1760

What were the Philosophes trying to What were the Philosophes trying to accomplish?accomplish?

By using reason without revelation a By using reason without revelation a perfect society could be created that leads perfect society could be created that leads to progressto progress and human happinessand human happiness

They believed that knowledge would lead They believed that knowledge would lead to “enlightenment” or based on reason to “enlightenment” or based on reason rather than superstition, bigotry or rather than superstition, bigotry or religious fanaticismreligious fanaticism

This is different than traditional thinkingThis is different than traditional thinking““All that is needed to be known, has All that is needed to be known, has

already been discovered” (St. already been discovered” (St. Augustine)Augustine)

Literacy rates in 18Literacy rates in 18thth Century Century England, Netherlands, France and England, Netherlands, France and German States was one-half to one-German States was one-half to one-thirds of men and less than that for thirds of men and less than that for womenwomen

But Royal censors banished books for But Royal censors banished books for various reasons including religious various reasons including religious intoleration, threat of revolution intoleration, threat of revolution and the censorship of “free and the censorship of “free thinkers” expressing their opinions thinkers” expressing their opinions regarding the state and governmentregarding the state and government

The Publishing ExplosionThe Publishing Explosion

An 18th Century Print Shop

The widespread influence of publishing The widespread influence of publishing on on a literate societya literate society

Literacy rates in 18Literacy rates in 18thth Century England, Century England, Netherlands, France and German Netherlands, France and German States included one-half to one-third of States included one-half to one-third of all men and somewhat fewer womenall men and somewhat fewer women

Royal censors banished books for Royal censors banished books for various reasons including religious various reasons including religious intolerance, threat of revolution, and intolerance, threat of revolution, and censorship of “free thinkers” censorship of “free thinkers” expressing their opinions regarding the expressing their opinions regarding the state and government.state and government.

Diderot’sDiderot’s Encyclopedia Encyclopedia(A Classified Dictionary of the Sciences, (A Classified Dictionary of the Sciences,

Arts, and Trades)Arts, and Trades)

More than 100 authors contributed to this 28 volume encyclopedia

The ideas include all aspects of life: religion, government, astronomy, science

Attempt to organize all human knowledge in one place.

What was the effect of the Enlightenment?

Implications are revolutionary. Why?– Because the philosophes argued that social

progress and man’s freedom were constrained by social and political institutions (church and state) and did not reflect on humanity’s natural goodness

– Influenced the belief that man should be ruled by laws, not rulers

– Finally, thier belief in progress and man’s ability to solve problems

Montesquieu (1689-1755)Montesquieu (1689-1755)

Charles de Secondat, Charles de Secondat, baron de Montesquieubaron de Montesquieu– Member of Bordeaux Member of Bordeaux

ParlementParlement

– Wrote Wrote Persian Letters Persian Letters (1721)(1721)

– Spirit of the Laws Spirit of the Laws (1748)(1748)

– Believed the separation Believed the separation of powers in England of powers in England was superior form of was superior form of gov’t than absolutismgov’t than absolutism

Voltaire Voltaire (1694 –1778)(1694 –1778) Francois-Marie Arouet Francois-Marie Arouet

took the pen name of took the pen name of VoltaireVoltaire

Wrote Wrote CandideCandide (1759) (1759) Jean Calas affair (1763)Jean Calas affair (1763) Letters on the English Letters on the English

(1778)(1778) Admired English form Admired English form

of gov’t. & hated of gov’t. & hated religious intolerancereligious intolerance

Denis Diderot Denis Diderot (1713 –1784)(1713 –1784)

Diderot’sDiderot’s Encyclopedia Encyclopedia(A Classified Dictionary of (A Classified Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and the Sciences, Arts, and Trades)Trades)

More than 100 authors More than 100 authors contributed to this 28 contributed to this 28 volume encyclopediavolume encyclopedia

The ideas include all The ideas include all aspects of life: religion, aspects of life: religion, government, astronomy, government, astronomy, sciencescience

Attempt to organize all Attempt to organize all human knowledge in one human knowledge in one place.place.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712 –1778)(1712 –1778)

Born in Geneva, later Born in Geneva, later lived in Francelived in France

Most important works:Most important works:– Émile, or on Education Émile, or on Education

(1762)(1762)

– Social Contract Social Contract (1762)(1762)

– ConfessionsConfessions (1782) (1782)

Political concept of the Political concept of the General WillGeneral Will