Spread of ideas during the 18th century (1700s) which emphasized rational thought and reason Age of Reason

Inspired by the Scientific Revolution, especially Newton and Locke Undercut the importance of religion and God Secularism

Began in England, before moving to France, and finally Germany

1. Opposition to authority2. Rationalism3. The enlightenment movement4. Cultural optimism5. The return to nature6. Natural religion7. Human rights

England at the time was far more liberal than France because of the “Glorious Revolution” French inspired by English, esp. Locke and Newton

Became opposed to the old authority King, nobility, and clergy

Though an individual should be skeptical of all inherited truth. One should find their own answer to every

question, not accepted “authority’s” answer This type of thought led to questioning of the

church and the monarchy

All Enlightenment Philosophers put great importance on reason

Thanks to experiments and discoveries by earlier scientists and thinkers, people realized that nature was subject to reason Nature’s laws could be reasoned though No longer had to accept authority’s answers to

questions, as using reason, they could figure them out themselves

Philosophers of the Enlightenment wanted to spread this new rationalism Though reason was the basis for a better society Poverty and oppression was the fault of ignorance

Examples:1. Encyclopédie, ou dictionnaire raisonné des sciences, des

arts et des métiers (Encyclopedia, or a Systematic Dictionary of the Sciences, Arts, and Crafts) – one of the first encyclopedias to include many contributors and to focus on medicine.▪ Compiled by Diderot

2. Enlightened Despotism – rulers who aimed to advance society by fostering education, aiding the economy, and promoting social justice▪ Frederick the Great of Prussia ▪ Catherine the Great of Russia▪ Joseph II of Aurstira

Many philosopher’s believed that with the of reason and knowledge that society could only become better Eventually society would be rid of

irrationality and ignorance and society would become completely “enlightened”

Disclaimer: Nature very similar reason Human reason was a gift of nature, not of religion or civilization

Observed less “civilized” people of other cultures, saw they were happier

Jean Jacques Rousseau, a key philosopher in the Enlightenment, emphasized a return to nature Thought that civilization corrupted humankind and that life in a

state of nature was freer Goal of individual is to strip away artificial restraints of

civilization and return as far as possible to nature Distrust of civilization lead to his criticism of Education and child

rearing practices ▪ Argued that children needed to be understood as individuals and successfully

reformed many educational and child rearing practices Glorified emotion Politically, he came up with the idea of the “general will” –

meaning that the consensus of the majority should control a nation

Religion should be in harmony with reason Should be stripped of all irrational doctrines and dogmas

Thought it was irrational not to believe in God Many professed Deism

God created the world, but does not intervene in it. Some thought that God reveals himself through nature and

natural laws

Believed that people had certain “natural” rights – rights that everybody was entitled too just by being born Freedom of thought and speech

Can be seen in the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen – one of the most important documents to come out of the early French Revolution

“Feminism” Most thought only men deserved these natural rights However there were a few “extremists” who wanted more

rights for women▪ Marquis de Condorcet published a treatise on the rights of women▪ Olympe de Gouges demanded equality for men and women▪ Many of the salons where philosophers went to share their ideas were run

by woman

Voltaire Criticized society, injustices, and organized religion Helped bring about a desire for change Deist Freedom of thought Also a poet, essayist, dramatists, and satirist

Montesquieu- argued that there should be separate parts of government to avoid despotism. Brought about ideas of checks and balances.

Hume – religion is mere superstition Adam Smith – classical economics, “laissez faire”, invisible

hand Kant – Critque of Pure Reason - Categories of understanding