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The Age of Enlightenment aka The Age of Reason

The Age of Enlightenment aka The Age of Reason. 18 th Century Thought. Age of Reason aka the Enlightenment. 1700s Truth via rational & logical thought! Assumption: Everything in the universe can be explained!

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The Age of Enlightenment aka The Age of Reason

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  1. The Age of Enlightenment akaThe Age of Reason 18th Century Thought

  2. Age of Reason aka the Enlightenment • 1700s • Truth via rational & logical thought! • Assumption: Everything in the universe can be explained! • Ideas spread via coffeehouses, salons, secret clubs [Masonic Lodge], published writings… • Public Opinion thru common knowledge

  3. Influences on the Age of Reason

  4. Early Philosophes • Thinkers, writers, critics, reformers… • Qs directed at the growing urban society… • Immanuel Kant… Dare to Know! Q! Think! • Denis Diderot >> Encyclopedia • 17 volumes of known information • Francois-Marie Arouet aka Voltaire • Jailed in Bastille > exile in England > travels Europe • Candide = satire attacking human optimism • Free Speech / Religious Toleration

  5. Enlightenment & Religious Thought • Claims established religion is hindrance to rational thought & human development • Against secularized Church of Old Regime • Deism • God rational, “watchmaker” • Q the Biblical narrative • Against Judaism (primitive) & Islam (fanatics) • Spinoza: secularized Judaism... God/nature • Mendelsohn: blend w/ Europeans while keeping faith… toleration

  6. Enlightenment & Society • John Locke • Tabula Rasa… experience alone makes us! • Humans are rational, trust them to choose wisely • Cesar Beccaria • Vs. torture & capital punishment b/c it is cruel • Utilitarian… greatest good for greatest # • Physiocrats • Gov’t exists to protect property / farming is #1 • Adam Smith • Capitalism via “Invisible Hand” of free market • Laissez-faire = gov’t “hands off” economy

  7. Enlightenment & Politics • Thomas Hobbes: Leviathan • Man is evil, needs control by strong ruler • Social Contract: give up your rights in exchange for protection • J Locke: Two Treatises on Government • Man is rational & good, can choose well • Social Contract: Government exists by the consent of the governed, bad government should be replaced

  8. Enlightenment & Politics E • Montesquieu: Spirit of the Laws • Constitutional Monarchy • Separation of powers = 3 Branches of Gov’t • Legislative (Create Law) • Executive (Enforce Law) • Judicial (Interpret Law) • JJ Rousseau: The Social Contract • Direct Democracy via “General Will” of people • Loyalty to community is #1 • Man is good, but corrupted by society L J

  9. Enlightenment & Women • Supported Philosophes via “Salons” • Madames Geoffrin, Pompadour etc. • Mary Wollstonecraft: Vindication of Rts • Education is key / Gender equality / Reform • Montesquieu • Gender equality / Traditional / Limited change • JJ Rousseau: Emile • Educated but… “Separate spheres” • Traditional roles / Subordinate to men

  10. Enlightened Absolutism • Frederick the Great (Prussia) • Religious toleration / Merit based ennobling • Legal codes / Education / Reform • Catherine the Great (Russia) • Limited reform / Charter of Nobility (rights) • Joseph II (Austria) • Religious toleration / Legal reform • Abolished serfdom

  11. Enlightenment & the Arts • Rococo • Light-hearted, frivolous, pastel, light, playful • Hôtel… gardens… suggestive statuary • Neo-classical • Greek-Roman themes, topics, style

  12. Poland: Victim of Competition • Poland lacked… • Strong monarchy • Natural defenses • Loyal nobility • Bureaucracy • Partitioned by Prussia, Russia & Austria • Ceased to exist as a country, 1795 until 1919 • Polish people live under others

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