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Enlightenment Intellectuals & Their Impact on Society

Explore the influential ideas of Montesquieu, Voltaire, Hume, Adam Smith, Rousseau, Diderot, and Wollstonecraft during the Enlightenment period, addressing topics like separation of powers, individual rights, economics, education, and gender equality.

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Enlightenment Intellectuals & Their Impact on Society

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  1. The Enlightenment

  2. Montesquieu • French nobility, classical education & studied law • Persian Letters - attack on French institutions mainly Catholic Church and Monarchy • “History is full of religious wars; but, we must take care to observe, it was not the multiplicity of religions that produced these wars, it was the intolerating spirit which animated that one which thought she had the power of governing.” ― Montesquieu, The Persian Letters • Spirit of Laws - most famous work • Separation of Powers- based on England’s system

  3. Voltaire • middle class family in Paris, classical education, studied law • forced to flee France - lived in England 2 yrs • Philosophic Letters on the English - praised freedom of press, political freedom and religious toleration • Treatise on Toleration - argued for religious toleration • championed deism - God no direct involvement in world

  4. Voltaire Quotes • “the holy roman empire was neither holy nor Roman nor an empire” • “I may not agree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it” • “Crush the infamous thing” • Also wrote Candide – satire attacking war, religious intolerance, etc.

  5. Diderot • son of craftsman France, became freelance writer • early in career attacked the intolerance of Christianity • wikipedia...more like Dideropedia • greatest work was editing 1st Encyclopedia • made available the ideas of Sci Rev and Enlightenment

  6. David Hume • Scottish philosopher • Treatise on Human Nature- bundle theory • built on Locke - human mind is a bundle of impressions • ideas reflect experiences - reason can’t answer questions that are not verified by senses • “Science of man” or social sciences - how humans interact

  7. Adam Smith • Physiocrat (economist) credited for modern economics • Wealth of Nations - laissez-faire economics - rejected mercantilist approach – “Invisible Hand” • free trade - do away w/ tariffs that protect domestic ind. • nations wealth based on labor • also known as 19th c economic liberalism

  8. Rousseau • Born in Geneva, spent youth wandering France & Italy • The Social Contract - “General Will” • liberty achieved by doing what is best for all people • participatory democracy • Emile - on education • “Everything is good as it leaves the hands of the Author; everything degenerates in the hands of man” – education allows man to survive a corrupt society

  9. “Woman’s Question” • Read the handout. How do Rousseau and Wollstonecraft differ on the role of women?

  10. “Woman’s Question” • Where did women fit in the Enlightenment and the discussion of rights? - mixed results • Many male thinkers reinforce female inferiority based on “natural” biological differences • Rousseau • Others promoted women to be no different than man • Diderot, Voltaire - “women capable of all that man are” • As hostesses of salons - women play important role

  11. Wollstonecraft • English writer founder of modern European feminism • Vindication of the Rights of Woman • contradiction of arbitrary power of men over women same as arbitrary power of monarchs over subjects • If reason is innate in all human beings why are women not entitled to same “natural rights”?

  12. The Issue of Race • How was the Enlightenment used to justify racist attitudes?

  13. Culture & Society • Rococo - lavish, power, majesty w/ emphasis on pastel colors • associated with aristocracies of Old Regime • Originated in 18th c. France Imperial Hall - Balthasar Neumann Return from Cythera - Antoine Watteau

  14. Culture & Society • Neoclassical - return to the ancient world - built on Renaissance developments of Greek and Rome • Republican values which criticized Old Regime • Scenes of heroism and self-sacrifice Oath of the Haratii - Jacques-Louis David

  15. Development of Music • New musical period - classical era (1750-1830) • new instrument - piano • Mozart - child prodigy -first opera at 12 Music composed of melody, grace and emotion

  16. Crime & Punishment • Beccaria - Italian philosophe • On Crimes and Punishments • Punishments should be effective and just • Attacked torture and capital punishment

  17. High vs Pop Culture • High Culture - learned folks w/ fancy books and such • Universities - still taught concepts based on Greek/Latin • Pop Culture - peeons with their oral jargon • chapbooks - helped literacy rates increase • 28%-85% from 1710-1789, women remained 15% • Across the board increase in drinking at both levels • Carnivals and Taverns

  18. Religion & Enlight. • As scientific beliefs and reason gained support, Europe became more secularized • Catholic Church removed from international affairs • Toleration for religious minorities in some Catholic countries • Joseph II of Austria - Toleration Patent • Jews remained deprived of rights • Pietism - deeper devotion to God - Wesley Methodism

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