The Enlightenment

The EnlightenmentMid 1700’s

Note Key:

If the writing is in black WRITE IT DOWN!!!

If the writing is in White read it and think about it.

What Was the Enlightenment?

The Enlightenment was an intellectual movement in Europe during the 18th century that led to

a whole new world view.

According to the 18th- century philosopher Immanuel Kant, the “motto” of the Enlightenment was “Sapere aude (dare to know)! Have courage to use your own intelligence!” (Kant, “What Is Enlightenment?” 1784)

Immanuel Kant

The Scientific Revolution

The Enlightenment grew largely out of the new methods and discoveries achieved in the Scientific Revolution

The equatorial armillary, used for navigation on ships

Francis Bacon and the Scientific Method

• The scientific method• Observation and

experimentation• Testable hypothesis

Sir Francis Bacon

Isaac Newton and the Scientific Method

• Used the scientific method to make a range of discoveries

• Newton’s achievements using the scientific method helped inspire Enlightenment thinkers

Sir Isaac Newton

Enlightenment Principles

• Religion, tradition, and superstition limited independent thought

• Accept knowledge based on observation, logic, and reason, not on faith

• Scientific and academic thought should be secular

A meeting of French Enlightenment thinkers

The Marquis de Condorcet

• French mathematician

• Sketch for a Historical Picture of the Progress of the Human Spirit

• Played active role in the French Revolution

Condorcet (continued)

• Universal education (education for all)

• Progress and “perfectibility,” the idea that people realistically strive for perfection in all areas of life.

New Social Developments

The French Salon and the Philosophes

Madame de Pompadour

• Madame de Pompadour• Salons: gatherings for

aristocrats to discuss new theories and ideas

• Philosophes: French Enlightenment thinkers who attended the salons

The Encyclopédie

• Major achievement of the philosophes

• Begun in 1745; completed in 1765

• Included the most up-to-date knowledge on the sciences, arts, and crafts

Frontspiece to the Encyclopédie

The Encyclopédie (continued)

• Denis Diderot and Jean Le Rond d’Alembert

• Banned by the Catholic Church

• It contained nearly 72,000 articles accompanied by numerous illustrations

Encyclopédie editor Denis Diderot

Deism

• Deists believed in God but rejected organized religion

• Morality could be achieved by following reason rather than the teachings of the church

Lord Edward Herbert of Cherbury, founder of deism

Deism (continued)

• God/the creator is the “great watchmaker”

• The idea that the universe operates like a watch.

• Thomas Paine is a famous American Deist.

Thomas Paine

How Rulers Ruled Before the Enlightenment

• Divine Rights of Kings

• The idea that rulers receive their authority from God and are answerable only to God.

Stop

• Take a deep breath and let it out.

• Continue breathing deeply and quietly until the teacher distributes paper to the class.

• Answer the following questions on this half sheet of paper.

Enlightenment Questions• 1. What do you believe is the nature of human

beings? Are people born inherently good or bad? Can people’s nature change? Explain your answers completely.

• 2. What would Martinez look like if there were no laws or police?

• 3. What would you do if you saw a person drop a $100 bill? Explain your reasoning.

Enlightenment Thinkers

René Descartes (1596–1650)• French philosopher and

mathematician• Questioned the basis of

his own knowledge• “Cogito ergo sum”• “I think, therefore, I am.”

Voltaire (1694–1778)

• Most famous philosophe

• Wrote plays, essays, poetry, philosophy, and books

• Attacked the “relics” of the medieval social order

• Championed social, political, and religious tolerance

Voltaire (con’t)• Credited with the idea of freedom of speech.

• He was very critical of the French government and the Roman Catholic Church.

• Was imprisoned in the Bastille twice.

• “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it”.

Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679)• Applied rational analysis to

the study of government• Attacked the concept of

divine right, yet supported a strong monarchy

• People are naturally wicked and selfish (bad). People must voluntarily give an authoritarian figure the power to rule.

John Locke (1632–1704)

• People have the ability to reason and can compromise (people are good).

• If Gov. doesn’t govern justly the people must over through it and establish a government that is just.

• Tabula rasa (a “Blank slate”)

Locke(continued)

• In Treatises of Government he attack DRo’K and Authoritarian Government

• Believed in Natural Rights which he defined as “Life, Liberty, and Property.”

Jean-Jacques Rousseau(1712–1778)

• Believed that people are good but corrupted by society.

• Believed in Direct Democracy (individual vote).

• People are not truly free if they don’t make their own decisions.

• The Social Contract

Baron de Montesquieu (1689–1755)

• Developed the idea of separation of powers.

• The Spirit of the Laws states that governmental power should be balanced among three branches.

Montesquieu (continued)

Three Branches of Gov.

• Executive = Carry out (enforce) laws.

• Legislative = Create laws.

• Judicial = Interpret laws.

The Spirit of the Laws

Women and the Enlightenment

• Changing views of women’s role in society

• Role of education• Equality

Mary Wollstonecraft Olympe de Gouges

Mary Wollstonecraft

• A Vindication of the Rights of Women.

• Believed that equal rights should be extended to women.

• Had the same natural rights and intellectual capacity as men.

Wollstonecraft (continued)

• The start of modern Women’s rights movement

Title page of Wollstonecraft’s Thoughts on the Education of Daughters

Olympe De Gouges

• Criticized the French Revolution

• The Rights of Women• “Declaration of the Rights

of Woman and the Female Citizen”

• Executed in 1793

“Enlightened Monarchs”• Most of Europe ruled by

absolute monarchs

• Receptive to Enlightenment ideas

• Instituted new laws and practices

Enlightened Monarchs

• Frederick II, Prussia

• Catherine the Great, Russia

• Maria Theresa, Austria

• Joseph II, Holy Roman Empire

• Gustav III, Sweden

• Napoleon I, France

Influenced by the Enlightenment

The American Revolution

• Influence of Locke, Montesquieu

• The Declaration of Independence

Thomas Jefferson

The U.S. Constitution• Separation

of powers• Checks

and balances

Painting depicting the Constitutional Convention

The French Revolution

• The American Revolution

• The Estates General

The Marquis de Lafayette

The Declaration of theRights of Man

• Adopted by National Assembly in 1789

• “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité”

The Legacy of the Enlightenment

• Government• Society• Education

The signing of the U.S. Constitution

Frederick the Great (ruled 1740–1786)

• Prussian ruler• Had a strong interest in

Enlightenment works• Induced Voltaire to come

to Prussia

Frederick the Great (continued)

• Wanted to make Prussia a modern state

• Reforms

Painting titled “Frederick the Great and Voltaire.”

Catherine the Great(ruled 1762–1796)

• Russian ruler• Well-versed in

Enlightenment works• “Westernizing”

Russia

Catherine the Great(continued)

• Domestic reforms• Peasant revolt

Maria Theresa (ruled 1740–1780)

• Austrian ruler• Government

reforms• The serfs• Son—Joseph II

Joseph II (ruled 1765–1790)

• Ruled as coregent with his mother until 1780

• Joseph’s reforms• Religious

toleration• Control over the

Catholic Church• Abolition of

serfdom

Gustav III (ruled 1771–1792)

• Swedish ruler• Read French

Enlightenment works• Reforms• Absolutism

Napoleon I

• French ruler• Military career• Rise to power

Napoleon I (continued)• Reforms

• Education

• Law