The Enlightenment and its Impacts Flashcards
What was the enlightenment? What other intellectual movement does it have parallels with? - Enlightenment
The enlightenment was an intellectual movement based around rational, informed thought based on observation.
Has strong parallels with the Scientific Revolution of the 16th/17th centuries.
What is dogma? - Enlightenment
Dogma is the acceptance of the status quo within society without any questioning or opposition to it.
How did John Locke influence the enlightenment? - Enlightenment
John Locke, an English political philosopher, was a major advocate of a government which sought the consent of the public for its actions.
Who was Montesquieu? What were his key ideas? In what notable products did he express these ideas? - Enlightenment
Montesquieu was a magistrate and president of the Bordeaux Parlement. He strongly believed in the separation of powers between the 3 branches of government, but also highlighted the need for the nobility and their privilege.
‘Persian Letters’ and ‘The Spirit of Laws’.
Who was Voltaire? What were his key ideas? - Enlightenment
Voltaire was a writer of plays, novels and poetry, producing scathing satires which were critical of the lack of equality and justice in France (no right to fair trial or civil equality).
How was Voltaire persecuted by the government? What place inspired many of his ideas? What were his notable works?
Voltaire spent a year imprisoned in the Bastille by a lettre de cachet, before fleeing to England where he discovered the very liberal freedom of speech and press. Wrote ‘Candide’.
Who was Rousseau? What were his key ideas? What is his main work expressing these ideas? - Enlightenment
Rousseau was writer who was under constant pressure by the French government. He was an advocate of the ‘social contract’ the idea that government should rule with obligations to the people in mind, and that the people should be able to overthrow an abusive government. His main work was entitled ‘The Social Contract’.
Who was Diderot? What was his main work? - Enlightenment
Diderot was a former lawyer turned writer, whose main work was the Encyclopédie, an attempt to gather all human knowledge in one place.
How did Diderot’s work contrast with the beliefs of French society at the time? What happened to encyclopédie? - Enlightenment
Diderot’s attempts to gather all human knowledge in one place opposed the societal hierarchy whereby knowledge was largely kept away from the working classes and reserved only for the nobility.
Encyclopédie was later banned after its enlightenment undertones were seen, mainly as a result of the Church’s command.
What were key social enlightenment ideas? - Enlightenment
The philosophes largely believed in greater social liberty (with exception of Montesquieu), such as for freedom of expression and association, freedom of knowledge and greater access to justice through a more laissez-faire attitude from government.
What were key political enlightenment ideas? - Enlightenment
Key political enlightenment ideas included the idea of the separation of powers (Montesquieu), the social contract for the enacting of policies (Rousseau), the ending of absolute monarchy/introduction of constitution.
What were key religious ideas of the enlightenment? - Enlightenment
Key religious ideas included the prevention of corruption within the First Estate, the reduction in Church control of daily lives, opposition to the ‘great chain of being’ which enshrined the hierarchy of French society religiously.
What was mercantilism? Why was it divisive? - Enlightenment
Mercantilism is the traditional economic policy of heavy state interference and control over the economy, trade and business. Used taxes and monopolised businesses to regulate trade. Divisive because it was heavily restrictive.
What sort of people would attend Enlightenment gatherings at salons? - Enlightenment
Salons could be attended by both the bourgeoisie and nobles, as well as being heavily visited and often hosted by women. Allowed a great accumulation of different groups within society, very inclusive.
What sort of people would attend Enlightenment gatherings at Freemasonry Lodges? - Enlightenment
Freemasonry lodges would be solely attended by upper class men, meaning that their debate would be restricted to the wealthier sectors of society.
