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The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment. Mrs. Casey. Doctrines of the Enlightenment. Natural goodness of humans Perfectibility of human race, 180 degree shift Emphasis on reason (beliefs based on reason…Deism or Atheism) Equality before the law and right to individual liberty Tolerance

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The Enlightenment

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  1. The Enlightenment Mrs. Casey

  2. Doctrines of the Enlightenment • Natural goodness of humans • Perfectibility of human race, 180 degree shift • Emphasis on reason (beliefs based on reason…Deism or Atheism) • Equality before the law and right to individual liberty • Tolerance • Universal brotherhood of all rational beings • Science/progress Limitation: Racist

  3. Key Elements of Enlightenment • Self- centered/human-centered, not God-centered focus • Always a process, never complete (person, work, thought, etc.); create new practices to become dominant • The rights of man • Science • No aristocracy (against the Divine Right of Kings) • US is founded on principles of the enlightenment, not Christianity • Declaration is a statement on the principles of the enlightenment

  4. Kant on the Enlightenment • Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one's own understanding without another's guidance. This immaturity is self-imposed if its cause lies not in lack of understanding but in indecision and lack of courage to use one's own mind without another's guidance. Dare to understand! (Sapereaude.) "Have the courage to use your own understanding," is therefore the motto of the enlightenment.

  5. Jefferson on the Enlightenment • All eyes are opened, or opening, to the rights of man. The general spread of the light of science has already laid open to every view the palpable truth, that the mass of mankind has not been born with saddles on their backs, nor a favored few booted and spurred, ready to ride legitimately, by the grace of God. These are grounds of hope for others." • Questions: Who are the favored few? • What is the metaphor in this quote?

  6. Edwards • Yale at 13 • Explored writing in the library; had the latest books from England….John Locke "Concerning Human Understanding" • Raised as a Calvinist, but sees an emergent culture around the ideas of the Enlightenment. Troublesome because of the elitist elements of the emergent thinking. • Observing and experimenting • Humans are divine, but empirical thinkers

  7. Edwards • Considered to be one of the greatest minds America produced. • One of the preachers during “The Great Awakening” • Doesn’t have conversion until 18 years old; writes Resolutions • They were instructions for life, maxims ; a soul fit for eternity with God. • Guidelines for self-examination; 70 total. • God was present, personal, and primary. • Prayed on resolutions and his own sinfulness.

  8. Franklin • Self-made man. • The other side of the Enlightenment. • Wrote his Autobiography, which includes resolutions. • He also lived by them, added and edited them his entire life. • 13 resolutions to be a better citizen. • No prayer, just hard work. • Brief and eccentric. http://edwards.yale.edu/research/major-works/resolutions

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