The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment
““Siecle de LumiereSiecle de Lumiere””
““The Century of LightThe Century of Light””
I. What was it?I. What was it?
Progressive, Progressive, Rationalistic, Humanistic Rationalistic, Humanistic worldviewworldview
Emerged out of the Emerged out of the Scientific Revolution and Scientific Revolution and culminated in the French culminated in the French RevolutionRevolution
Spokesmen = Rising Spokesmen = Rising Middle ClassMiddle Class
Paris = Center of Paris = Center of EnlightenmentEnlightenment
Western European FocusWestern European Focus Optimism about Optimism about
mankindmankind’’s abilitiess abilities
II. Key IdeasII. Key Ideas
Distrust of Tradition Distrust of Tradition and Revealed Religionand Revealed Religion
Scientific method Scientific method could be applied to could be applied to society as wellsociety as well
Society can get better Society can get better as risks are takenas risks are taken
Man is naturally goodMan is naturally good Good life is on earthGood life is on earth
III. An Attack on the Old III. An Attack on the Old RegimeRegime
A. The World of the Old A. The World of the Old RegimeRegime
Built on traditionBuilt on tradition World of hierarchy, World of hierarchy,
privilege and privilege and inequalityinequality
Allied with the Allied with the ChurchChurch
Challenged by the Challenged by the reform impulse of reform impulse of supporters of the supporters of the EnlightenmentEnlightenment
B. Conflict with the Capitalistic B. Conflict with the Capitalistic Middle ClassMiddle Class
Support for the Middle Support for the Middle Class social order Class social order against the traditional against the traditional social ordersocial order
Size and increasing Size and increasing power of the Middle power of the Middle ClassClass
New notion of wealthNew notion of wealth Tension and discord Tension and discord
created by the Middle created by the Middle ClassClass
IV. The PhilosophesIV. The Philosophes
1818thth century French century French intellectualsintellectuals
Interest in addressing a Interest in addressing a broad audiencebroad audience
Committed to reformCommitted to reform Celebrated the scientific Celebrated the scientific
revolutionrevolution The The ““Mystique of Mystique of
NewtonNewton”” Science applied to Science applied to
societysociety
VI. The Role of the SalonVI. The Role of the Salon
Protection and Protection and encouragement encouragement offered by French offered by French aristocratic women aristocratic women in their private in their private drawing roomsdrawing rooms
Feminine influence Feminine influence on the on the EnlightenmentEnlightenment
Madame GeoffrinMadame Geoffrin
VIII. Famous Enlightenment VIII. Famous Enlightenment ThinkersThinkers
As the Enlightenment began, European thinkers began looking for ways to apply reason in order to improve the human condition.
• English philosopher, believed all people born equal
• Government should protect people’s natural rights– Monarchs not chosen by
God– Government by consent– Power limited by laws– Ideas foundation for
modern democracy
John Locke
New Views on Government
View of Government, Society
• Believed government should work for common good, not wealthy few
• Individuals should give up some freedoms for benefit of community
• Despised inequality in society
• Views inspired revolutionaries in years to come
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
• French philosopher, believed people basically good
• Believed society corrupted people
• Wrote The Social Contract, contract between all members of society
• “Man is born free but everywhere is in chains.”
Separation of powers
• Best form of government divided power among branches of government
• Separation of powers kept individual or group from abusing power
Checks and balances
• Misunderstood structure of British government, rational conclusion anyway
• Separation of powers allowed each branch to check against power of others
• Concept later important structure of democratic governments
The Spirit of the Laws
• Published 1748, showed admiration of Great Britain’s government• Powers divided into branches: legislative, executive, judicial• Parliament made laws, king carried out laws, courts interpreted
laws
Baron de Montesquieu
New Views on Society
Some Enlightenment philosophers focused on Some Enlightenment philosophers focused on government, others on issues in societygovernment, others on issues in society
Francois-Marie Arouet, wroteFrancois-Marie Arouet, wrote asas Voltaire Voltaire Outspoken philosopher, wrote with biting witOutspoken philosopher, wrote with biting wit
Attacked injustice among nobility, government, Attacked injustice among nobility, government, churchchurch
Created enemies, imprisoned twiceCreated enemies, imprisoned twice Exiled to England for two yearsExiled to England for two years Defended principles, fought superstition, Defended principles, fought superstition,
ignoranceignorance Lifelong struggle for justice, toleration, libertyLifelong struggle for justice, toleration, liberty
Diderot
• French philosopher
• Determined in mid-1700s to try to compile great expansion of human knowledge into a single work
Lifelong work
• Worked on Encyclopedia 27 years, last volume published 1772
• Spread Enlightenment ideas across Europe, North America
Encyclopedia
• Diderot’s extensive 35-volume work, to promote knowledge
• Explained new ideas about art, science, government, religion
Attacks by French leaders
• Criticisms of church, government, legal system
• Tried to stop publication, 1759
• Last volumes completed in secret, but immediate success
New Views on Society
Adam Smith
• Scottish economist, used reason to analyze economic systems
• Hated Mercantilism
• The Wealth of Nations advanced free market enterprise
• Strong believer in laissez-faire economics, no government regulation
• Believed economy would be stronger if market forces of supply and demand were allowed to work freely
Mary Wollstonecraft
• Enlightenment thinkers still held traditional views about women
• Proper roles wives, mothers; should receive limited education
• Wollstonecraft demanded equal rights for women
• A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, equal education for women
The spirit of optimism quickly spread throughout Europe. A few monarchs became enlightened despots, changing their systems of government and ruling according to Enlightenment ideas.
• Frederick II, had duty to rule with absolute power
• Also strongly influenced by ideas of Voltaire
• Built powerful military, introduced reforms
Prussia• Elementary
education for all children
• Abolished torture
• Supported most forms of religious tolerance
• Reduced censorship
Reforms • No religious
tolerance for Jews
• Opposed serfdom, did not abolish
• Did not make reforms to achieve justice but to make own rule more powerful
Limitations
The Enlightened Despots
Russia
• Catherine II became ruler, 1762• Dreamed of establishing order, justice, supporting education,
culture• Read works of, corresponded with Voltaire, Diderot
Limitations
• Intended to free serfs, but would lose support of wealthy landowners
• Catherine had no intention of giving up power• Became tyrant, imposed serfdom on more Russians than ever
before
Reforms
• Drafted Russian constitution, code of laws• Considered too liberal, never put into practice
Enlightenment Ideas Spread
Enlightenment Ideas Spread
Most radical enlightened despot, AustriaMost radical enlightened despot, Austria
Joseph II, became emperor 1780 Joseph II, became emperor 1780
Ambitious reform programAmbitious reform program
Eliminated torture, death penaltyEliminated torture, death penalty
Provided free food, medicine for poorProvided free food, medicine for poor
Granted religious tolerance to Protestants and Granted religious tolerance to Protestants and JewsJews
Abolished serfdom, laborers to be paid Abolished serfdom, laborers to be paid
Changes resisted by nobility, churchChanges resisted by nobility, church
When he died his son eliminated all of the programsWhen he died his son eliminated all of the programs
Challenged Beliefs• Writers, philosophers questioned ideas long held as absolute truth• Challenged beliefs in absolute monarchies• Questioned relationship between church and sate• Debated rules and rights of people in society• Promoted ideas reformers and revolutionaries would later use to change
society
• Belief in progress spurred many to enact reforms
• Believed reason could solve any problem, debated ways to make society more just
• Did not accept poverty, ignorance, inequality as facts of life
Reforms
Enlightenment Ideas Spread