Sci. Rev. and Enlightenment Terms and People Flashcards
Heliocentrism
Planets revolve around the sun. This belief gained popularity after Copernicus’ ideas were published shortly before his death. This threw away the Catholic Church’s idea of the Ptolemaic system
Telescope
Galileo Galilei’s perfection of the telescope helped to magnify the planets to the human eyes. Through his studying of the celestial objects he turned his back on the Ptolemaic explanation of the universe and started looking into heliocentrism
Law of Inertia
It is the tendency of an object to remain at rest or in motion. One of Newton’s laws that he published during the Sci. Rev. Later, people began to apply his ideas to explain human nature
Cartesian Dualism
Descartes’ principle of the separation of mind and body that enabled scientists to view matter as something separate from themselves that could by investigated by reason
Inductive vs. deductive
There is data, then conclusions are drawn from it/Starts with a general statement and prediction and moves towards specific, logical conclusions (like modern-day scientific method)
Newton’s synthesis
Newton combined findings and theories from others to form an explanation and comprehension of motion on earth and in sky. World machine, universe is seen as one regulated machine that operates according to natural laws
Progress
This is one of the goals of the Enlightenment that could be achieved by applying the principles of the Scientific Revolution. One of the main beliefs of En. was that societal progress could and should be achieved
Deism
Typical religious attitude of Enlightenment thinkers; belief that God is both the creator and abandoner of humans. They focused on human achievements and ability to reason, and that this is sufficient for knowledge
Tabula Rasa
“blank slate”, John Locke’s belief that humans enter the world this way and that environment and society shape who they are
Principia
Book stating all of Newton’s laws of motion; used math and logic to state how the universe worked. Now nobody could argue against heliocentrism without using the same math as he did
Spirit of the Laws
Written by Baron de Montesquieu, in which he argues for a constitutional system of government with separation of powers, the preservation of legality and civil liberties, and the end of slavery
Encyclopedia
Compiled by Denis Dedirot, published in France. Helped spread knowledge around the world which allowed more intellectuals to learn about interesting topics which led to some of these intellectuals questioning the French monarchy (which led to the French Revolution)
Salons
Ideas of the Enlightenment spread through discussion in public gathering spaces like this one. Often led by women
General will
The belief of Jean-Jacques Rousseau; he defined it as the will of the people. He claimed that when laws are in accordance with this the citizens will respect and love the state and fellow citizens
Enlightened despots
Monarchs who embraced Enlightenment ideas and made reforms that reflected the Enlightenment spirit. A despot is an absolute monarch. They supported philosophes’ ideas, but weren’t willing to give up any power
Pugachev Revolt
A peasant revolt that was initially successful, but Catherine the Great crushes it, stopped all attempts at rural reform, and expanded serfdom to new territories gained by Russia. It was caused by her expansion of the power of the nobility but not introducing real social reform
Natural laws
Moral laws of God which have been built into the structure of humanity. Associated with Thomas Aquinas who was Roman Catholic priest. Its basic principles are: that everything has a purpose, the world has design, fulfilling this design is the greatest good, human reason can be used to discover moral principles that are inherent within society and should be followed in order to fulfill the highest moral good
Natural rights
Rights that come from God or Nature, not from mankind. You are born with these rights, you don’t have to earn them (life, liberty, property). Natural rights philosophers believed citizens consent to follow the laws of government in exchange for protection that these rights won’t be taken away (social contract)
Neo-Classicism
The Western movement in decorative and visual arts. Also applies to literature, theater, music, architecture. It coincided with the Age of Enlightenment. Often portrayed Roman history and heroes. Three characteristics were formal composition, local color, overall lighting. Renewed interest in classical ideals and forms that influenced European and American society through idea, politics, and fine arts
Enclosure Acts
Passed to encourage improved methods of cultivation and stock-raising to increase productivity (Agricultural Revolution). Old village system was an obstacle, so government was able to ensure that more of the common land would come under private-ownership- by the already landed wealthy. Led to the increased productivity of land and labor but also released labor for other wage earning pursuits
Agricultural Revolution
The improvement in agricultural practices and methods in the 18th century. It by and large destroyed the traditional patterns of English village life. It freed the agricultural work force, thus increasing the industrialization work force. Three things that helped it along: finance, consumption, trade
Copernicus
1473-1543, wrote On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres and in it used math and observational data to make the case that the earth orbits the sun. Fear of consequences keeps him from publishing until shortly before his death
Brahe/Kepler
Brahe: Records observations of planetary movement
Kepler: Uses his data to develop three laws of planetary motion, disproving Ptolemaic theories of unchanging circular orbits
Galileo
First to use telescope to observe planetary movement; observes that planets are not “ethereal” and are made of the same materials as earth AND finds data that confirms Copernicus’ theories, publishes his findings in 1610. Catholic Church puts him on trial and he is put under house arrest
Newton
1642-1727, math professor that invents calculus. Describes universal law of gravitation and three laws of motion in his Principia; Newtonian physics are standard until Einstein. is significance: world seen as orderly machine that behaves according to predictable, observable, measurable laws
Descartes
He says “If I can doubt, I can think. If I think, I must be real. I think, therefore I am” He believed in Cartesian dualism, and he founds rationalism which suggests that we can understand the world through reason, since observation can sometimes lie. Contrasts with empiricism, which suggests that the world can be understood through observation
Bacon
One of the developers of the scientific method. His was that develop general principles from experimentation and observation of multiple examples (inductive reasoning)
Voltaire
His beliefs included favor of tolerance, freedom of religion, and free speech. He was against the French government and Christianity. One of his best works was Candidate
Locke
Essentially believed all men were created equal before God and thus have natural rights, including the right to government by the consent of the people, the right to life, the right to liberty, the right to property. Believed that the government should operate within the consent of the people it governs and should protect and respect people’s God-given rights. Supported peoples right to rebel against a government if it failed to protect and honor their rights. Wrote Two Treatises on Government
Rousseau
He defines State of Nature as men are born naturally good; society/interaction with others is responsible for corruption. Role of government was to bring people into harmony and unite under “general will”; yes to democracy
Chatelet
1706-1749, French noble women that translated Newton’s Principia and helped Voltaire with The Elements of the Philosophy of Newton. Had a decent education for a woman, created the early system of financial derivatives
Wollstonecraft
Wrote “A Vindication on the Rights of Women,” was a feminist. She felt that if women could work and were educated, they would be happier and thus make their husbands happier
Montesquieu
Enlightenment thinker who developed the idea of having three distinct branches of government. Believed in the rights of individuals, the importance of the separation of powers is that it will keep individuals or group from gaining total control of the government
Mozart
A great composer, his music rejected the monarch and accepted Enlightenment ideals
JL David
His style was Neo-Classicism and his art was inspired by Greeks and Romans. Two of his major works were Oath of Horati and Death of Socrates. He was sentenced to six months in jail for supporting Robespierre, and he was the official painter for Napoleon and he’s best known for political propoganda
Frederick the Great
Prussian ruler from 1740-1786 “Enlightened Absolutist”, he ended capital punishment and limited corporal punishment on serfs, allowed for moderate religious tolerance; however, still relied on serfdom and did not free Jews. Continued to build a strong military and gained Silesia and Polish territory in the War of Austrian Succession
Catherine the Great
Of German descent, became Russian ruler through marriage and then death of her spouse. An example enlightened monarch; she centralized power and gave it to the government administration, gave power to the Romanov family (she was part of), encouraged education system, strengthened economic development. It can be argued that she was not an enlightened monarch
Joseph II
Abolished serfdom and tried to give peasants hereditary rights to their holdings; was a true enlightened monarch but disapproval from the nobles as well as the peasants ended his reign
Thomas Hobbes
Believed in the idea of an absolute monarchy because to him people are born naturally evil and need government to control them. He wrote the Leviathan during the time of the English Civil Wars convinced him that all humans are morally bad and selfish
Diderot
Friend of Rousseau, published and edited the Encyclopedia (collection of philosophies). Circulated knowledge out of salons
Jethro Tull
An English agricultural pioneer who brought along the British Agricultural Revolution with his development of a horse-drawn seed drill in 1701. Hit methods were adopted by many large landowners and they helped form the basis of modern agriculture
