Chapter 2: The Enlightenment Flashcards
What was the enlightenment?
An intellectual movement of writers and thinkers- philosophes
What did the philosophes emphasise?
Importance of human reasoning in guiding government and society
How did philosophes analyse society?
Based on reason and rational thought rather than superstition and opposition
What did the philosophes challenge?
Religion and therefore the king
How did philosophes attack the church?
Criticised church’s “chair of being” which implied a natural hierarchy of existence- God, Angela, monarchs, aristocrats, etc
Didn’t accept tradition or revaluation as reason for doing anything
Challenged doctrines such as existence of miracles and Devine revelation, often disproving tenets with science
Attacked church’s decadent lifestyles, taxes, power over commoners
Caused church to hate philosophes
What was the impact of the philosophes attack on the church?
In last 25 years of 18th century, number taking careers in church declined
But little indication Frenchmen we’re any less devout
What was Rousseau’s attitude towards government?
Developed idea that gov. was based of a contract between king and subject, with obligations on both sides
What were philosophes attitudes towards government?
In favour of freedom of speech, trade, freedom from arbitrary arrest
Arguments that king relied too much on favourites and that their power needed to be curbed by a representative body
These arguments from some educated, ‘enlightened’, members of the second estate (able to spread info)
Where did the enlightenment originate?
First figures from England
Louis XIV reign = began to gather in Parisian salons complaining about state of France
Louis XV = popularity increased; complaints and idle wining changed to constructive political thought
What did members of the enlightenment originally do?
Read works of leading philosophers
These thinkers = philosophes (writers, journalists, teachers)
Improved literacy rate in France
Denounced Christianity
Opposed abusive govs. in Europe
Who was the philosophe induvidual Rousseau?
1712-1778
Belief in natural goodness in man set him apart
Writer of the social contract
Knew his ideas would in work in practice, so an idealist
Who was the philosophe induvidual Montesquieu?
1687-1785
Believed liberty was a right
Stressed importance of separation of powers
First proponent of checks and balances system in gov.
Helped develop democracy
Opposed monarchy
Who was the philosophe induvidual Diderot?
1713-1784
Writer and philosopher
Created encyclopédie- collected enlightenment knowledge, philosophers discussions, scorned
Book spread enlightenment across Europe
Book banned in many countries for a while (did manage to sneak some out tho)
Who was the philosophe induvidual Voltaire?
1694-1778
Primary statist of enlightenment
Playwright
Period of exile in England; introduced to works of Locke and Newton
Deist- hated religion, believed in God
Hated Christianity
Supporter of monarchy
Criticised
Called for steed on if speech
How did enlightenment ideas threaten the ancien regime?
Large, varied audience
Targeted religion, domination of society by a aristocracy including the monarchy
Salons (informal meetings wealthy ladies discuss issues of the day)
Criticism and action
Works spread across Europe
Undermined, questioned ancien regime
