The Enlightenment: The Enlightenment: OverviewOverview

EnlightenmentEnlightenment

1818thth C shift to scientific C shift to scientific analysis in political analysis in political philosophy, social sciences, philosophy, social sciences, and religionand religionConviction that economic Conviction that economic change and political reform change and political reform were possible and desirablewere possible and desirableDeep political effects, Deep political effects, especially in America and especially in America and FranceFranceInfluenced “enlightened Influenced “enlightened despots” such as Frederick II, despots” such as Frederick II, Joseph II, Catherine the Joseph II, Catherine the GreatGreatContained seeds of socialism Contained seeds of socialism and social upheaval of 19and social upheaval of 19thth and 20and 20thth centuries centuries Jeu des Philosophes, deck printed 1793

ApplicationsApplications

Enlightenment thinkers Enlightenment thinkers pushed for changes in pushed for changes in economy, agriculture, economy, agriculture, social practices, political social practices, political practices, and religionpractices, and religion

““Enlightened Absolutism” Enlightened Absolutism” was a form of absolute was a form of absolute monarchy that embraced monarchy that embraced social, economic, and social, economic, and sometimes religious sometimes religious reformreform

Jethro Tull

PhilosophesPhilosophes

Writers and critics who forged Writers and critics who forged new attitudes favorable to new attitudes favorable to changechangeVoltaire, Montesquieu, Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Hume, Kant, et alRousseau, Hume, Kant, et alAgreed on rational approach to Agreed on rational approach to change, but disagreed on change, but disagreed on specificsspecificsAgreed on ultimate goal of Agreed on ultimate goal of increasing human libertyincreasing human libertyUsed print media to propagate Used print media to propagate ideas: treatises, novels, plays, ideas: treatises, novels, plays, pamphlets, bookspamphlets, books

La lecture des philosophesCollection Jean-Jacques Monney, Genève

Religion and EnlightenmentReligion and Enlightenment

Philosophes believed in Philosophes believed in religious tolerancereligious tolerancePhilosophes often argued for Philosophes often argued for existence of God, but not existence of God, but not intolerant religionintolerant religionPhilosophes tended to argue Philosophes tended to argue that organized religion that organized religion prevented improvement of prevented improvement of humankindhumankindDeism: belief in single, Deism: belief in single, creator, “watchmaker” God creator, “watchmaker” God with “rational” worship with “rational” worship Voltaire: “Crush the infamous Voltaire: “Crush the infamous thing”thing”

Notre Dame became the Temple of Reason

Diderot’s EncyclopediaDiderot’s Encyclopedia

Denis Diderot 1713-1784Denis Diderot 1713-1784Continually indebted son Continually indebted son of a cutlerof a cutlerCompiled explanation of Compiled explanation of all things and ideasall things and ideas1750: offered public 1750: offered public opportunity to purchase opportunity to purchase first volume; completed first volume; completed 176517651759: Officially 1759: Officially suppressed, for fear of suppressed, for fear of dangerous ideasdangerous ideasFinal version heavily Final version heavily edited by printers, fearing edited by printers, fearing persecutionpersecution

Print from Diderot’s Encyclopedia

Adam Smith 1723-1790Adam Smith 1723-1790

The Wealth of Nations The Wealth of Nations explained economic self-explained economic self-interest, scarcity, and interest, scarcity, and supply and demandsupply and demandExplained the “Invisible Explained the “Invisible Hand” that controls marketsHand” that controls marketsFamously explored division Famously explored division of labor through analysis of of labor through analysis of pin factorypin factoryBelieved in free-market Believed in free-market forces leading economy to forces leading economy to adjust itselfadjust itself

Voltaire 1694-1778Voltaire 1694-1778Considered France’s greatest Considered France’s greatest writerwriterGreat wit; crusader against Great wit; crusader against injustice, intolerance, war; injustice, intolerance, war; advocated reformadvocated reformWrote 56 plays, dialogues, Wrote 56 plays, dialogues, histories, stories, novels, poetry, histories, stories, novels, poetry, essays, scientific papers, essays, scientific papers, pamphlets, book reviews, more pamphlets, book reviews, more 20,000+ letters20,000+ lettersNo copyright existed, so made No copyright existed, so made little money on writinglittle money on writingWeakness of France after Louis Weakness of France after Louis XIV highlighted need for reform in XIV highlighted need for reform in FranceFranceTwice in Bastille; lived outside of Twice in Bastille; lived outside of Paris, fearing arrestParis, fearing arrestCandide satirized society in novelCandide satirized society in novel

Montesquieu 1689-1755Montesquieu 1689-1755

1748: 1748: Spirit of the Laws Spirit of the Laws held British constitution held British constitution as wisest modelas wisest modelTheory of separation of Theory of separation of powerspowersBut best government But best government depended on unique depended on unique requirements of each requirements of each societysocietyDeep influence over Deep influence over James Madison, writer of James Madison, writer of US ConstitutionUS Constitution

Rousseau 1712-1778Rousseau 1712-1778

Man is a “noble savage” Man is a “noble savage” corrupted by civilization, corrupted by civilization, especially via unequal distri-especially via unequal distri-bution of wealthbution of wealth1762: 1762: The Social ContractThe Social Contract: : government responds to government responds to people’s will (directly, at people’s will (directly, at best) best) Questioned correctness of Questioned correctness of private property and attacked private property and attacked economic inequality: economic inequality: foundations of socialismfoundations of socialismInfluenced American and Influenced American and French revolutions: political French revolutions: political empowerment of the peopleempowerment of the people