LS Hub S3 Humanities Summary Notes Sub-module 2 - Enlightenment 2.1 What is Enlightenment? In terms of the word itself ● Literally means “Lighten up darkness” ● Discover the truth ● Freedom from false beliefs and misunderstanding ● Put faith in rationality and believed that all problems in the world could be solved by science ● Valued philosophy and ideas to make society and gov’t more efficient and humane In terms of Historical Event ● An intellectural movement that covers period of European History from 1651-1798 (17th Century to 18th Century) ● Also known as Age of Reason/Age of Science 2.2 Key Concept of the Enlightenment “Man had a mission to free themselves from supersitions and ignorance” (Declaration of the rights of Man 1789) ● People tried to work out all reasons behind everything. ● People believe that they should free themselves from superstitions. ● At its climax, people thought that anything could be explained by science. The Time Period of the Enlightenment ● It is initiated and originated in France during the 17th-18th century ● The Enlightenment reflects different political and governmental ideas Page 1 of 10
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
LS Hub
S3 Humanities Summary Notes
Sub-module 2 - Enlightenment
2.1 What is Enlightenment?
In terms of the word itself
● Literally means “Lighten up darkness”
● Discover the truth
● Freedom from false beliefs and misunderstanding
● Put faith in rationality and believed that all problems in the world could be solved by
science
● Valued philosophy and ideas to make society and gov’t more efficient and humane
In terms of Historical Event
● An intellectural movement that covers period of European History from 1651-1798
(17th Century to 18th Century)
● Also known as Age of Reason/Age of Science
2.2 Key Concept of the Enlightenment
“Man had a mission to free themselves from supersitions and ignorance”
(Declaration of the rights of Man 1789)
● People tried to work out all reasons behind everything.
● People believe that they should free themselves from superstitions.
● At its climax, people thought that anything could be explained by science.
The Time Period of the Enlightenment
● It is initiated and originated in France during the 17th-18th century
● The Enlightenment reflects different political and governmental ideas
Page 1 of 10
LS Hub
S3 Humanities Summary Notes
Sub-module 2 - Enlightenment
2.3 Fundamental Enlightenment Values
❖ A deep commmitment to reasons
➢ Deep in to discover the reasons behind everything
❖ A disbelief in past beliefs, traditions, conventioned because they limited their
mind
➢ Stop past superstitions and think reasons behind using their mind
❖ A trust in modern science to solve problems and provide control over nature
➢ Science is a method to solve problems
❖ A commitment to the idea of progress in material wealth and human society
❖ A belief in essential goodness of human nature
❖ A belief in people having been born with rights (I.e. Fundamental human
rights)
❖ An emphasis upon the individual as master of his fate and fortune
❖ An engagement with the public sphere of discussion and action
➢ Public Area for discussion and inquiry
2.4 Difference between Renaissance and Enlightenment
Renaissance Enlightenment
Art Spirit was mostly limited to art Art was well developed
Education Education started to be common People were widely educated
Interests Interested in mankind and the world
Focused on everything solved by science
Government/ Church
Most people did not dare to challenge or the church publicly
Frequent public discussion on people liberty and political system
People’s Mind Just inspired by Humanism Open up people’s mind
Page 2 of 10
LS Hub
S3 Humanities Summary Notes
Sub-module 2 - Enlightenment
2.5 Cause of Enlightenment
Impact on Medieval Times
❖ Decline of Church
➢ Church was being corrupted and declined due to its malpractice (弊端) such
as selling indulgence and wrong teaching in handling black death
➢ Method taught by the church did not heal disease. Instead, doctor’s scientific
method used let people seek for truths behind superstitions
➢ People start to question the church and start to discover the truth behind all
religious belief and superstitions
➢ Perhaps the church did not have absolute divine power to rule
❖ Decline of Feudalism
➢ Discovering truth, thinking that perhaps the king does not have absolute
divine power to rule
Impact on Renaissance
❖ Rise of Humanism
➢ Humanism in renaissance encouraged people thinking in science and human
world. People had curiosity to the world around them
➢ Humanist try to put the same laws and observations to humanistic field (E.g.
Society and government)
❖ Science in Renaissance
➢ Many scientific methods and discoveries were invented during Renaissance
➢ People had more courage to question the church’s teaching and popular
assumptions around
➢ Start to have rational belief
➢ Rise of science and inquiries let people question and discover the truth
The Enlightenment was initiated by educated people mainly in the middle class.
Page 3 of 10
LS Hub
S3 Humanities Summary Notes
Sub-module 2 - Enlightenment
2.6 The Three Estate System
General Concept of Three Estate System 1st Estate - King/Clergy Tax Level: 0
Rights to be enjoyed - The Most Rule Nobility and Commoners
2nd Estate - Nobility Tax Level: ≈ 0
Rights to be enjoyed - Quite a lot Rule commoners and report situation
to king/clergy
3rd Estate - Commoners Tax Level: Highest
Rights to be enjoyed - Least (Including merchants, workers,
peasants…..)
Page 4 of 10
LS Hub
S3 Humanities Summary Notes
Sub-module 2 - Enlightenment
2.7 Society in 17th Century
❖ Kind-hearted autocrats
➢ Some absolute monarchs made some political reforms trying to practice the
ideas of the new thinkers
❖ Form of Government
➢ Absolute monarchy was adopted from 16th century in France
❖ The Three Estate System
➢ The third estate contributed the most to the most to the society but had least
rights and privileges
➢ Triggered new wave of thoughts about social equity and personal rights
➢ Very unfair and caused inequality
2.8 Ideas of the Enlightenment - Thomas Hobbes
Relationship between people and ruler
● Man was born with equal body and mind but is
selfish and evil, so they must be controlled
● Humans are evil so they should be ruled by a
monarch (absolutism) in order to protect life and
properties so there are no rights (except
defence)
● No natural inequalities as no one claim to be
privileged naturally
● Description state of nature: Solitary, poor, nasty,
brutish, short
● Law are required and needed to control the
human society
人性醜惡，所以需要法律及獨裁專權去控制人民的生
命財產
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679)
❖ English Politician and Philosopher
❖ Famous Work ➢ Leviathan ➢ On the Citizen
Page 5 of 10
LS Hub
S3 Humanities Summary Notes
Sub-module 2 - Enlightenment
2.9 Ideas of the Enlightenment - John Locke
Relationship between people and ruler
● People have the right to life, liberty and property
● A society needs a form of government to protect
the above natural rights
● Government is necessary evil for any human
society
● Man was born like a blank sheet of paper (equality)
● Democratic Elections of the government should be
made (I.e. Voting) so that there will be a contract
between people and ruler. However, only male can
vote
● People can set up and overthrow any government
that suppressed the natural rights of humans
John Locke (1632-1704)
❖ Englishman ❖ Famous Work
➢ The Two Treaties on Government
2.10 Ideas of the Enlightenment - Voltaire
Personal Rights/Freedom
● All people should have the following rights
○ Freedom of Speech
○ Freedom of the press
○ Freedom of Religion
○ Freedom of Election
○ Right to liberty and property
● People understand their freedom and rights more
● Government pays more attention on everyone’s
freedom
● Voltaire criticized the views and values of the church
● One of the key person in discussing French
Revolution, regarded as “Chairperson of free
thought”
Voltaire (1689-1755)
❖ French ❖ Famous Work
➢ Candide
Page 6 of 10
LS Hub
S3 Humanities Summary Notes
Sub-module 2 - Enlightenment
2.11 Ideas of the Enlightenment - Montesquieu
Form of Government
● Man tends to over exercise his power once he
possesses
● Different power should be kept separately
● The law should treat everyone fairly
● Separation of Powers
● Monitor and Balance are imported in Hong Kong
nowadays
● It is human nature that people have the power to rule,
they will tend to over exercise power and make other
people suffer. Therefore, the best way of governance
and ruling will be break the power of the government
into three branches (I.e. Separation fo Powers)
Montesquieu (1689-1755)
❖ French ❖ Famous Work:
➢ The Spirit of Laws ➢ Monitor and
balance
2.12 Montesquieu - Political Concept - Separation of Powers (三權分立)
● Separation of powers would break and separate the power of the government into
three branches such that the power would not be absolute and the ruler will not over
exercise the power
● Separation of powers would protect people’s rights better and stop absolute rule
because the three branches of government and ruling are providing checks and balances
when a power is exercised. They will monitor and won’t infringe each other.
Page 7 of 10
LS Hub
S3 Humanities Summary Notes
Sub-module 2 - Enlightenment
2.13 Ideas of the Enlightenment - Rousseau
Relationship between people and ruler
● Man is born equal equally, good, compassionate but
can be corrupted with powers and properties
● People have freedom, happiness and liberty
● In the state of nature, government is not needed
● Some freedom need to be limited for the goodness
of others
● Power to rule comes from the people but not the
government
● When society comes power, people start to be
greedy and no longer independent, the become
dependent and corrupted so it gave rise to the need
of proper ruling and government
Rousseau (1712-1778)
❖ French ❖ Famous Work
➢ The Social Contract
2.14 Rousseau - Political Concept - Social Contract Theory
● There is an agreement/contract between members of the society
● Secure mutual protection of an welfare
● Individuals have consented to surrender their freedom and submit to the authority
of the ruler in exchange for the protection of their life and remaining rights
● There is always a contract between the people and the ruler. If the ruler broke the
contract/over exercise the power, the people could set up a new government by
overthrowing the old
● An equilibrium (Middle ground) is required to reach between ruler and the people
Page 8 of 10
LS Hub
S3 Humanities Summary Notes
Sub-module 2 - Enlightenment
2.15 Impact of the Enlightenment (Short Term)
Immediate Impact to Europe and the World
❖ People understand their rights better
❖ Due to the enlightened mind and encouragement, it give rise to social movements
such as the American Revolution (1775) and the French Revolution (1789).
❖ During these social movements/revolutions, people fight for democracy and liberty.
Liberty Equality Fraternity 自由 平等 博愛
Declaration of the rights of man (1789)
The American Constiution (1787)
Three tri-color/cornerstones of France (French Flag) Represented human dignity
Drew ideas from John Locke and Rousseau Foundation of Human rights
Drew ideas from John Locke and Montesquieu Legal framework of USA today
2.16 Influences of the Enlightenment (Long Term)
Romanticism (浪漫主義)
❖ People have emotions and expressions
❖ Developed as a side effect in 19th century due to the world political and social disorder
❖ There are wars, disasters and revolutions
➢ People feel frustrated, full of fear and hopeless because of the chaos and
unstable society. Challenge the necessity of enlightenment and began to
solve problems by looking into human emotions and power of imagination
❖ Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment
➢ People trust that science can solve many (or even all) problems, if they
cannot solve a problem using reasons and sciences, people will feel frustrated
❖ Movement and revolutions
➢ Deeply connect to politics, echoing people’s fears, hopes and aspirations
Page 9 of 10
LS Hub
S3 Humanities Summary Notes
Sub-module 2 - Enlightenment
Economic Impact
● Rise of Capitalism (資本主義)
● Enlightenment thinkers suggest that people
should have their rights to own their
properties and this rights should be
protected
● Encouraged the emergence of new economic
theories (E.g. Adam Smith, opportunity cost)
Capitalism -> Leve l Structure ->. Hierarchy and
Disparity in the society (Will talk more in Industrial
Revolution)
Impact to Modern Global Values
❖ Liberty
➢ People have their rights and enjoy their freedom
➢ Society is liberal
❖ Human Rights
➢ People have their fundamental rights
➢ Declaration of Human Rights (1948, after World War II)
❖ Democracy
➢ Powers are from the people and all people can make the decision for the
government
❖ Equality
➢ All people are equal and have the same treatment and rights
❖ Fraternity
➢ Brotherhood, people like and care each other to build a peaceful society
Page 10 of 10
Related Documents
![社会福祉法人 芙蓉会o O s Fit s 0 m S U s ctt U U cit rig fÑt S U/ s ffl]li s Cft k rtl 00 s s m S O O S s s 9Èt s m s s s U ñt s](https://static.cupdf.com/doc/110x72/60ce9659fe3d6336ef5f02cf/ccc-ee-o-o-s-fit-s-0-m-s-u-s-ctt-u-u-cit-rig-ft-s-u-s-fflli.jpg)
