Lesson 2 - The Enlightenment Flashcards
known as the Age of Reason that took place in Europe during the 18th century
the Enlightenment
thinkers called philosophes began to use reason to try to understand how the world worked and how to make it better
the Enlightenment
Old superstitions were rejected and religious beliefs
were challenged
the Enlightenment
Ideas that originated during the Enlightenment
Right to happiness Science should be practical Discrimination is wrong Separation of church and state Right to privacy Governments should not be all-powerful Freedom of speech Education and prison reforms Seeds of Democracy
CATALYSTS
religious warfare of the 1600s
Louis XIV revoked edict of nantes
The father of modern rationalism
“I think, therefore I am”
Rene Descartes
The Scientific Revolution:
Scientific Method: systematic observations and
careful experiments would lead to correct principles
was proposed by
Francis Bacon
Natural laws can be discovered
Isaac Newton
Heliocentric model challenges both established science and the Church
Nicholas Copernicus
Opens the door to the questioning of other realms
Nicholas Copernicus
“no need for God in science”
Francis Bacon
Develops mathematical ideas that explain the physical universe (Laws of Motion)
Isaac Newton
supreme principle of morality is a standard of rationality “Categorical Imperative”
Immanuel Kant
18th century Enlightenment – The Age of Reason
Revolution in philosophy
Philosophers, inspired by scientists, started
questioning God and God’s role in society
emphasis was placed on criticizing government and the church
One of the main issues that was discussed during this
time
role of government
Enlightenment thinkers
(philosophes)
Believed that men are entitled to life, liberty and PROPERTY, “Government should
protect us from us”
John Locke (english)
- more on property
- Inspiration for the American founding fathers
Believed that all men are entitled to life, liberty and EQUALITY
Jean Jacque Rousseau (french)
-Inspiration for the French revolutionaries (many women and poor commoners)
“Government should promote equality among “all men
Jean Jacque Rousseau
Men form governments; Governments must respond to the needs of men; If a government does not respond to the needs of men, men have the
right to change the government.
The “Social Contract”
attacked the Church and the French government
though his short novel, Candide
Voltaire
Advocated freedom of religion and separation of church and state; Advocated the right of
citizens to a fair and impartial trial
Voltaire
-advocated deism
attacked the idea of government intervention in the economy
Adam Smith
Believed in a pure capitalist system where the “law of supply and demand” would determine prices
Adam Smith
questioned the existence of God; Used a logical and scientific argument to question faith
David Hume
“Since faith itself is irrational, what makes one faith right for everyone?”
David Hume
-member of the church but never waivered
advocated a belief in God even if that belief was irrational
Deism and the Watchmaker Theory
-No need for prayer or worship – it’s counterproductive – God’s not listening anyway
The Results of the Enlightenment
Reason is used to justify different forms of government
Stimulated religious tolerance
Progress is encouraged
Inspired revolutions
Voltaire
Monarchy
Rousseau
Democracy
Enlightenment ideas in new world:
The American Revolution
more of a war for independence, but it did incorporate rhetoric from the Age of Reason
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Declaration of Independence
Considered the first true
government document
containing enlightenment
principles
Declaration of Independence
Enlightenment ideas in the old world:
Enlightened Despotism in Central and Eastern Europe
monarchs and emperors modernized the states while the people earned some political and social rights
Women of the Enlightenment
Madame Geoffrin
Abigail Adams
Olympe de Gouges
Mary Wollstonecraft
Wife to John Adams, who was a leader of the American Revolution and later President.
Abigail Adams
“Remember, all men would be tyrannts if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies, we are determined to start a rebellion…we will not hold ourselves bound to any Laws in which we have no voice.”
Abigail Adams
she argued that women deserved the same rights and opportunities as men; believed education was the key for women wanting equality and freedom.
Mary Wollstonecraft
