Week 3- Enlightened philosophes Flashcards
What was the Enlightenment?
An intellectual and cultural movement which spread across Europe during the eighteenth century.
European thinkers questioned traditional assumptions, ideas and institutions (absolute monarchy, the church and structure of society).
Who were the philosophes?
They challenged the the political and religious institutions of the Ancien regime.
They sought to establish the basic principles by which the state could be governed, how members of society should live and how wealth should be distributed.
Name some significant philosophes…
Charles-Louis de Secondat (Montesquieu), François-Marie Arouet (Voltaire), Jean-Jaques Rousseau, Denis Diderot
What were Montesquieu’s key ideas?
He was the president of the parlement of Bordeaux.
He defended the nobility and privilege but questioned political authority.
He argued there should be a seperation of powers.
He believed in separate a legislature, executive, and judiciary.
He believed the power of one should never exceed the power of another.
Give an example of Montesqueiu’s work?
Lettres Persanes, 1721
L’Espirit des Lois, 1748.
What were Voltaire’s key ideas?
He mainly targeted religion.
He accepted the existence of God but railed against the divine right of kings, religious decisions, superstition and corruption of the higher clergy, and the Church’s failures to minister to the poor.
Give an example of Voltaire’s work?
He wrote plays, poetry, historical works and philosophy.
He wrote satires and his best known work is Candide (1759) which took aim at the upper classes and their willful ignorance of the sufferings of those below them.
What were Rousseau’s key ideas?
He argued that ‘man is born free and everywhere he is in chains’- corrupted by society and its politics.
He believed that Governments should protect liberty and ensure equality but decisions should be made on the ‘general will’ of society.
The people had the right to overthrow governments that failed to act correctly.
Give an example of Rousseau’s work?
He made several contributions to Denis Diderot‘s Encyclopédia.
His best know work was The Social Contract and Emile, 1762.
In this he explored the relationship between government and individuals and considering how individuals should be educated to become better citizens.
What were Diderot’s key ideas?
He advanced theories about logic, education and human society
He often criticised organised religion and the traditions of the Ancien Régime.
In 1749, he was imprisoned for almost a year for these ideas.
Give an example of Diderot’s work?
He is best known for his Encyclopédie.
This was compiled between 1751 and 1772.
More than 100 thinkers contributed to it but Diderot wrote several articles himself.
Diderot attempted to bring together all human knowledge and “change the way people think”.
He hoped to show how man was attempting to master human behavior.
