The Enlightenment Flashcards
Enlightenment core ideas
1: natural science could and should be used to understand aspects of life. (Reason) nothing accepted by faith. Created rationalism which is a secular way of thinking based on scientific reasoning.
2: the Scientific method was capable of discovering the laws of human society as well as those of nature.
3 progress. They thought it was possible to create better societies and better people.
Bernard de Fontanelle
Stressed the idea of progress. He believed that atleast intellectual progress was very possible. He also believe that science and religion had no correlation. He was skeptical about the absolute truth about the claims of organized religion.
Pierre Bayle
Most famous and influential skeptic of his time. He thought that human beliefs had been varied and mistaken. He concluded that nothing can every be known beyond al, doubt. Humanity’s best hope was open-minded toleration.
John Locke
Wrote “Essay Concerning Human Understanding” and “Second Treaties Of Civil Government”. He rejected the views of Descartes, who thought that people were born with ideas and separate ways of thinking. Locke believed that we learn through experience, and that our mind is like a blank slate, and the environment writes our understanding and beliefs. This was known as Tabula Rasa.
What were philosophes?
The Enlightenments most influential intellects who believed strongly in Enlightenment ideals. Examples are Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau. They proclaimed that they brought the light to the people.
baron de Montesquieu
Wrote the Persian Letters which was a satire with a double meaning. He used double meaning to criticize existing practices and beliefs. He was a strong supporter of separation of powers, which divided and shared power, like English government.
Voltaire
Wrote many papers praising England and popularizing English scientific progress. Voltaire mixed ideas of science and reason with an appeal for better individuals and institutions. He wrote that Newton was histories greatest man. He was appointed royal historian in 1743 and his “Age Of Louis XIV”glorified him as a dignified leader. Voltaire and Frederick the great had a relationship, and Voltaire was invited to brighten up the Prussian court.
Unlike Montesquieu, Voltaire concluded that the best one could hope for was a good monarch because people are rarely worthy to govern themselves. Voltaire had more radical philosophical and religious beliefs. He was a Deist, and his writing challenged the Catholic and Christian Church (which is what most EN thinkers believed). Voltaire also hated religious intolerance. Lastly, Voltaire supported freedom of the press, and stressed that often too.
Denis Diderot
David Hume
1: created the Encyclopedia which was a collection of writings and works by philosophers and philosophes, glorifying them. It took a long time to complete, and it was placed on the Index Of Forbidden Books. The completion of this showed that humans could use the process of reasoning to expand human knowledge. It was read by many and summed up EN ideologies.
2: argued that the human mind is nothing but a bundle of impressions and that said impressions originate in experiences and our habits of joining these experiences together. Since our ideas ultimately reflect only our sense experiences, our reason cannot tell us anything about questions that cannot be verified by sense experience. This ended up undermining EN ideas in favor of reason.
What were salons and how did they impact women?
Private drawing rooms which were meant for conversation, discussion, and debate. These rooms helped spread Enlightenment ideas around France.
Salons were often headed by women and gave women a chance to hear about EN ideas as well as increased feminine education. These elite women actually influenced on artistic taste. A new art style called rococo was popular throughout Europe.
Rococo and Baroque
Rococo: portrayal of women in a sensual style. Used light colours and deemphasized religious themes. Examples: Francois Boucher: Morning Coffee, Jean Frangonard: The Stolen Kiss (border on erotic)
Baroque: Stressed broad areas of light an movement as well as religious figures. Strong sense of movement and emotion evoked from viewer.
Examples: Louis XIVs Versailles palace, and Peter the Greats Winter Palace.
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Committed to individual freedom, but attacked rationalism as destroying rather than liberating. The basic goodness of a child had to be protected from the cruel refinements of civilization. He believed that women and men were radically different beings, and he called for a rigid divide of gender roles. His belief of women were that they were for sexual relation, passive social life, care fir children at home, good housekeeping, and a fresh, natural appearance. (which means he rejected women’s roles in salons) His most famous thing is his “Sicial Contract” which says that the general will of the people is sacred and absolute, reflecting the common interests of all people. His concept influenced nationalists and democrats.
Immanuel Kant
Greatest German philosopher of his day. He argued for freedom of the press, and that everyone should obey laws. He tried to reconcile monarchal authority. This ultimately led to the spread of Enlightened Despotism
Classic Liberalism
Believed in liberty of a person and equality before the law, progress, human dignity, and happiness, religious toleration, freedom of the press, and laissez-fairs economy.
Adam Smith
Believed that we as humans had property rights. Huge believer in laissez-afire style economy which meant that the economy and market ran itself, free from the government, and run by supply and demand. Wrote “The Wealth Of Many Nations”which is essentially the Bible for capitalism.
Impact of Enlightenment on Society
Started enlightened despotism in Austria, Russia, and Prussia, fueled American and French Revolutions, educational reform in various countries, and contributed to the growth of laissez-faire economics and capitalism, lastly, EN teachings inspired many European rulers, who now ruled more in favor of the people.
