The Enlightenment / Age Of Reason Flashcards
Who were French philosophes inspired by?
English philosopher John Locke
What was the Enlightenment?
An intellectual and cultural movement in Europe in 18th century. They WERE NOT POLITICIANS.
Valued reason and logic and wanted to discover ‘truth’. Stressed logic and not falling for dogma
What did enlightened philosophes question?
Dogma. Absolute monarchy, church and society structure.
Argued that europes longstanding institutions (church, government) were unjustifiable and holding back progress
Charles-Louis Montesquieu (1689-1755)
- magistrate and president of parlement of Bordeaux
- published ‘letters Persones’
- ARGUED FOR SEPARATE POWERS IN STATE WHICH ARE AS IMPORTANT AS EACH OTHER.
- he wanted a legislative, executive and judiciary
François Marie Aurouet - Voltaire (1694 - 1778)
- prolific writer - poetry, plays etc. abandoned his career in law
- supported toleration and civil rights
- imprisoned under ‘letter de cache’ for insulting duc de Rohan
- ‘I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it’
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78)
- came from Geneva, lived either in exile or Paris
- wrote ‘Du Contrat Social: principles du draft politique’ the social contract, our rights
- ‘man is born free and everywhere he is in chains’ - everyone should work together for the good of humanity
- GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENSURE EQUALITY. RIGHT TO OVERTHROW GOVERNMENTS
Denis Diderot (1713-1784)
- gave up law career to write
- ‘Encyclopedie’ contributed by many French thinkers
- shows how men mastered natural world through science and technology
- rejected religion and saw church as a bar to progress
What was the main area of attack for the Philosophes?
The church. Many were deists but criticised church corruption, enforcement of hierarchy and control over ‘ignorant masses’. This means all the kings power will be gone
What did Philosophes want to replace ‘divine right’ and ‘absolutism’ with?
The favoured English idea of ‘limited monarchy’ who shared power of an elected government which prevented unwritten laws (lettre de cache) and unfair court rulings
The hated the priviledges of the estates and wanted a land tax paid by everyone - ‘lessez faire’ approach (these people who believed this called ‘physiocrats)
What 7 things did the philosophes want?
- Freedom of speech
- constitution of monarchy (some)
- lessaiz- faire (government not interfering)
- focus of life, not death
- religious toleration
- careers open to talent, not just
- civil liberty
(Summed up by rev slogan ‘liberty, equality, fraternity’)
Let’s look To Find Chelsea’s Red Cloak
Where was Robespierre a director of an Academie?
Arras 1786
What were ‘Academies’ and ‘Salons’?
A place for lectures, debates and competitions where highly intelligent people went to discuss things.
At houses of rich Nobility most of the time
Open to both genders from nobility and higher educated third estate like bourgeoisie
Female hosts: Madam Geoffrin, Mademoiselle de Lespinasse and Madame Necker
The salons were limited to the educated but France had rising literary ratings (60% urban) - people reading derogatory MA pamphlets
What were ‘Freemasons’?
A group which was a forum of debate where the members would pledge an oath of loyalty to one another.
By 1744, 20 lodges in Paris and 20 in the provinces
What were ‘Grub street writers’?
People that wrote comics to take piss of ancien regime. Gossip
Sold cheaply on streets, so everyone had access
Appealed to educated liberal nobles, educated bourgeoisie, lower class semi literats and Freemasons
What years were the American revolution?
1775 - 1783
