The Enlightenment

Question 1

What was the enlightenment?

Answer 1

• an intellectual movement of writers and thinkers during the eighteenth century accross europe
• it questioned and challenged views, ideas about religion, nature and absolute monarchy
• Their analysis of society was based on reason rather than superstition/tradition

Question 2

Who were the philosophes

Answer 2

• writers rather than philosophers, they attacked the prejudice and superstition that they saw around them
• most of them contributed towards the most important work of the French enlightenment - the encyclopedia

Question 3

What were the main aims and ideas of the philosophes, particularly in relation to the catholic Church?

Answer 3

• to apply rational analysis to all activities
• in favour of liberty of the press, speech, trade, freedom from arbitary arrest
• didn’t accept literal interpretation of the bible, rejected anything that couldn’t be explained by reason e.g. miracles
• beleived the catholic Church was corrupt, wealthy and intolerant

Question 4

In what respects did the philosophes contribute to the Revolution?

Answer 4

• had ideas against the ancien regime
• challenged and helped undermine one of the key pillars of the old order - role of King as God’s servant