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THE NEW “SCIENCE OF MAN”

THE NEW “SCIENCE OF MAN”. Use scientific methods to discover natural laws in all areas of human life = the “science of man” The science of man = the social sciences David Hume Scottish philosopher Enlightenment thinker Leading advocate of the social sciences

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THE NEW “SCIENCE OF MAN”

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  1. THE NEW “SCIENCE OF MAN” • Use scientific methods to discover natural laws in all areas of human life = the “science of man” • The science of man = the social sciences • David Hume • Scottish philosopher • Enlightenment thinker • Leading advocate of the social sciences • 1st of the new social sciences -> economics

  2. The founders of modern economics • The physiocrats in France • Adam Smith in Scotland

  3. PHYSIOCRATS • Led by Francois Quesnay • Natural economic laws governed society • Land only source of wealth – primacy of ag. • Rejection of mercantilism • Supply and demand • Laissez-faire = let people do as they choose -> govt hands off economy

  4. ADAM SMITH AND LAISSEZ-FAIRE ECONOMICS • Scottish philosopher and Enlightenment thinker • THE WEALTH OF NATIONS 1776 = the bible of laissez-faire • Attacked/condemned mercantilism • Free trade -> no tariffs • Competitive advantage = make what you’re good at + trade for the rest • Govt noninterference in econ matters • Govt has only 3 basic functions • National defense/army • Law and order/police and legal system • Public works/infrastructure

  5. ADAM SMITH • The economic liberty(freedom) of the individual • Sets the foundation for economic liberalism

  6. THE LATER ENLIGHTENMENT • Baron D’Holbach • German enlightenment thinker • Author of – System of Nature 1770 • Strict atheism and materialism • Condorcet-> French philosophe -> human perfectability

  7. DEISM = enlightenment religion According to deists, the creator does not intervene in human affairs or suspend the natural laws of the universe. Deists typically reject supernatural events such as prophecy and miracles, tending instead to assert that a god (or "the Supreme Architect") does not alter the universe by intervening in it. This idea is also known as the Clockwork universe theory, in which a god designs and builds the universe, but steps aside to let it run on its own.

  8. JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU • Born in Geneva -> kicked out then wandered around • Always felt separate from and apart from society and people • Settles in Paris -> joins up with the philosophes • Anti-reason/anti-logic -> the anti-enlightenment enlightenment thinker • Political philosophy – Discourse on the Origins of Inequality, The Social Contract • Social and educational ideas – Emile, The Nouvelle Eloise

  9. Discourse on the Origins of Inequality • Man starts out in a primitive condition = “the state of nature” • Man is happy and everyone is equal in the state of nature • The noble savage • The 1st fence = private property = inequality = unhappiness • Private property leads to law and order -> man gives up his natural freedom

  10. “MAN WAS BORN FREE, YET EVERYWHERE HE IS IN CHAINS” Jean Jacques Rousseau

  11. The Social Contract • Rousseau’s social contract is different from Locke’s • Each of us has an individual will • We combine into a society -> individual wills combine into “the General Will” • The general will governs -> it represents what is best for all • What is best for all is best for the individual-> no one can go against • A dangerous idea? – is this the foundation for totalitarian dictatorship? Or is it true democracy?

  12. The Emile • Work of philosophy disguised as novel • Subject is education • Education should nurture natural instincts not restrict them • Follow your heart not your head • Use feeling and sentiment not just reason and logic

  13. THE “WOMAN’S QUESTION” IN THE ENLIGHTENMENT • The traditional view of women • Women = weak, inferior, dangerous, built for home and babies • Men = required to dominate, control, protect women • New perspectives on the “women’s question” • Mary Astell – advocated education for women • Mary Wollstonecraft – founder of modern Euro feminism

  14. MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT • Author of – Vindication of the Rights of Women • Argued that women had the same innate reason and should have same rights • Women’s obedience to men was like slavery or bad government

  15. THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE PHILOSOPHES • The enlightenment and enlightenment thinking was the product of the upper middle class and nobility -> vast majority of people were ignorant of it and unaffected by it • The Salon • Meeting places in drawing rooms of wealthy urban aristos • Gathering places for enlightenment thinkers, aristocrats, govt officials, and wealthy middle class • Exchange and transmission of Enlightenment ideas • Wealthy women hosted • Madame Geoffrin -> most famous of the salonistas

  16. THE SPREAD OF ENLIGHTNEMENT THINKING • Other ways Enlightenment thinking was spread – • Coffeehouses and cafes • Reading clubs • Public lending libraries • Learned societies -> American Philosophical Society • Secret societies -> the Freemasons

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