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Revolution of Ideas: The Enlightened Age

Explore the 18th-century Age of Reason and Enlightenment, encompassing political, intellectual, cultural, social, and economic history. Discover the philosophical foundations, political landscapes, scientific advancements, and societal changes shaping this era. Unveil the origins and characteristics of the Enlightenment, from the impact of Newtonian physics to the rise of individualism and increased literacy. Delve into the debate between reason and faith, the emergence of rational religious beliefs like Deism and Pantheism, and the drive towards progress and social reform. Witness how Enlightenment ideals shaped politics, science, religion, and society, advocating for reason, tolerance, justice, and individual liberty. Journey through the transformative period that laid the groundwork for modern thought and societal structures.

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Revolution of Ideas: The Enlightened Age

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  1. The Age of Reason & Enlightenment By: Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY

  2. An Overview of the 18th Century • Political History >>> Reform • Intellectual History Newtonian Physics Reason • Cultural History Individualism • Social History  Increased Literacy  Age of Aristocracy • Economic History > Mercantilism to Capitalism

  3. What was the Enlightenment? A revolution in the world of ideas The belief… • …that natural science should be used to examine and understand ALL elements of life • Reason over and above faith – everything is critiqued • …that the Scientific method can discover ALL laws of human society AND nature • What is natural law? • …in progress: it is POSSIBLE for man to create a bettersociety (hope)

  4. 18th Century Politics • BRITAIN– Constitutional Monarchy • FRANCE Royal Absolutism (cultural and religious unity) • PRUSSIA, HABSBURG EMPIRE, RUSSIA“Enlightened Despotism” • OTTOMAN EMPIRE – traditional empire

  5. The Origins of Enlightenment? • SCIENTIFIC: • Newton’s system was synonymouswith the empirical and the practical. • Scientific laws could be expressed as universal mathematical formulas. • Science allowed alternatives to beimagined in everything from politics to religion.

  6. The knot is tied between… 1) The first string: 1687 Newton’s Principia • Newton inspired the Enlightenment • Inspired intellectuals that human reason, unaided by faith or ritual, could uncover laws of nature • Emilie de Chatelet & Voltaire Elements of the Philosophy of Newton, 1738 - popularizes Newton and science for educated elite --- • Bernard de Fontenelle, Plurality of Worlds (science as lit.) Woman and man discussing astronomy under the stars… ….and all rejoiced in the incredible capacity of the human min

  7. William Blake’s Newton, 1795

  8. The Royal Academy of Sciences, Paris

  9. Zoology & Biology A dissection at the Royal Academy, London.

  10. Chemistry Labs & Botany Gardens

  11. Natural History Collections • Cocoa plant drawing. • Sir Hans Sloane(1660-1753). • Collected from Jamaica.

  12. Natural History Collections James Petiver’s Beetles(London apothecary)

  13. Private Collections The Origins of Modern Museums.

  14. Women & Science The German astronomer Hevelius & his wife examine the heavens.

  15. The Origins of Enlightenment? • RELIGIOUS: • physico-theology – an attempt (inspired by science) to explain God’s Providence by reference to his work in nature & not primarily through his biblical Word. • support of a “rational” religion, freefrom mysteries, miracles, andsuperstitions.

  16. The Origins of Enlightenment? • RELIGIOUS: • Deism • The belief in the existence of a God or supreme being but adenial of revealed religion, basingone’s belief on the lightof natureand reason. • Deists saw no point in any particularreligion; they recognized only a distant,God uninvolved in the daily life of man.

  17. The Origins of Enlightenment? • RELIGIOUS: • Pantheism • The belief that God andnature are one and the same. • Gradually, highly educated Protestants & Catholics thought more about God’s work as revealed through science, than through the Scriptures.

  18. Centers of the Enlightenment

  19. The Characteristics of the Enlightenment Rationalism  reason is the arbiter of all things. Cosmology  a new concept of man, his existence on earth, & the place of the earth in the universe. Secularism  application of the methods of science to religion & philosophy.

  20. The Characteristics of the Enlightenment • Scientific Method • Mathematical analysis • Experimentation • Inductive reasoning. • Utilitarianism  the greatest good for the greatest number. • Tolerance  No opinion is worth burning your neighbor for.

  21. The Characteristics of the Enlightenment • Optimism & Self-Confidence • The belief that man is intrinsically good. • The belief in social progress. • Freedom • Of thought and expression. • Bring liberty to all men (modern battle against absolutism). • Education of the Masses

  22. The Characteristics of the Enlightenment • Legal Reforms • Justice, kindness, and charity  no torture or indiscriminant incarceration. • Due process of law. • Constitutionalism • Written constitutions  listing citizens, rights. • Cosmopolitanism.

  23. The “Enlightened” Individual The Philosophe • Not really original thinkers as a whole, but were great publicists of the new thinking  CHANGE & PROGRESS! • They were students of society who analyzed its evils and advanced reforms.

  24. The “Great Debate” Reason& Logic TraditionsandSuperstitions • rationalism • empiricism • tolerance • skepticism • Deism • nostalgia for the past • organized religions • irrationalism • emotionalism

  25. Marquis de Condorcet (1743-1794) • Progress of the Human Mind, 1794 • An expectation of universal happiness. • Every individual guided by reason could enjoy true independence. • He advocated a free and equal education, constitutionalism, and equal rights for women.

  26. The second String… (Locke vs. Hobbes) John Locke (1632-1704) • Letter on Toleration, 1689 • Two Treatises ofGovernment, 1690 • Some ThoughtsConcerningEducation, 1693 • The Reasonablenessof Christianity, 1695

  27. John Locke’s Philosophy (I) • The individual must become a “rationalcreature.” • Virtue can be learned and practiced. • Human beings possess free will. • they should be prepared for freedom. • obedience should be out of conviction,not out of fear. • Legislators owe their power to a contractwith the people. • Neither kings nor wealth are divinely ordained.

  28. John Locke’s Philosophy (II) • There are certain natural rights that are endowed by God to all human beings. • life, liberty, property! • The doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings was nonsense. • He favored a republic as the best form of government.

  29. Philosophy (III) John Locke 1632-1704: (critique of absolutist regime!!! – justifies constitutionalism) a) Two Treatises of Gov’t. (1680): translates natural law assumption into a concept of gov’t.! (written during Glorious Revolution!!!) - in “state of nature” – humans lack protection – so gov’t. Instituted “with the consent of the governed” - rational, conscious agreement of mutual obligation btw. state and people - IF gov’t oversteps its role – the people can abolish it! b) Essay Concerning Human Understanding (1690): - all ideas / human understanding derived from experience - tabula rasa: blank slate of the mind at birth - environment writes individual’s understanding / belief - SO: education / society determine human development

  30. The third String… 3) Uncertainty of religion---skepticism--- WHY??? • Destruction of wars of religion – culminating in Thirty Years’ War (1618-1648) • Catholics – Protestants: religion worth dying for! --- • BUT… Some skeptically ask • “Is religious truth absolute?” • “Is there such a thing as God?” • Increase in atheism = more reliance on reason and science for the “answers”

  31. The Fourth string… 4) Travel literature --- Opening W. Europe to the rest of the world! • Europe exposed to foreign cultures and different beliefs • Europeans shave their faces – and let their hair grow • Turks shave their heads – and let their beards grow • Europeans bow to a woman to show respect • Siamese don’t face a woman – to look directly at her is disrespectful • So if culture is relative maybe morality is relative, too? Who (what culture) determines what is right or wrong? • Noble savage “The life of savages is so simple, and our societies are such complicated machines!” • “the Grand Tour” – elite tourism to Italy, Greece, etc. Cultural Relativism

  32. Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) • Critique of Pure Reason, 1781 • “What is Enlightenment?”, 1784 • Metaphysical Foundations ofNatural Science, 1786

  33. Kant’s Philosophy • Dare to Know! • He introduced the concept of transcendentalism some things are known by methods other than empirically. • The belief in the existence of a non-rational way to understand things. • The existence of neither time nor space is determined by empirical understanding. • These type of things are a priori. • They transcend sensory experience. • They are pure, not empirical [[concepts like faith, pre-existence, life after death].

  34. Thomas Paine (1737-1809) • Common Sense, 1776 • The Rights of Man, 1791

  35. The American “Philosophes” John Adams(1745-1826) ThomasJefferson(1743-1826) Ben Franklin(1706-1790) …...…life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…………...

  36. Voltaire (1712-1778) • AKA  Francois Marie Arouet. • Essay on the Customsand Spirit of Nations, 1756 • Candide, 1759 • Philosophical Dictionary, 1764

  37. Voltaire’s “Wisdom” (I) • Every man is guilty of all the good he didn’t do. • God is a comedian playing to an audience too afraid to laugh. • If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him. • It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong. • Love truth and pardon error.

  38. Voltaire’s “Wisdom” (II) • Judge of a man by his questions rather than by his answers. • Men are equal; it is not birth, but virtue that makes the difference. • Prejudice is opinion without judgment. • The way to become boring is to say everything. • I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

  39. The Baron de Montesquieu (1689-1755) • Persian Letters, 1721 • On the Spirit of Laws, 1758

  40. Montesquieu’s Philosophy • Three types of government: • Monarchy. • Republic. • Despotism. • A separation of political powers ensured freedom and liberty.

  41. Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) • A Discourse on the Sciences and Arts, 1750 • Emile, 1762. • The Social Contract, 1762.

  42. Rousseau’s Philosophy (I) • Virtue exists in the ”state of nature,” but lost in “society.” • Government must preserve “virtue” and ”liberty.” • Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains. • The concept of the ”Noble Savage.” • Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. • Civil liberty  invest ALL rights and liberties into a society.

  43. Rousseau’s Philosophy (II) • Question Does progress in the arts and sciences correspond with progress in morality? • As civilizations progress, they move away from morality. • Civilization itself leads away from true fundamentals. • Technology and art create false desires. NO!

  44. Rousseau’s Philosophy (III) • Concept of the “General Will.” • Only those who make their own laws are free. • Virtuous citizens will agree, become one. • Not merely a consensus or the majority. • A discussion among the virtuous will yield unity. • Dissenters are “forced to be free.” • General Will = law + freedom!

  45. Edward Gibbon (1737-1794) • The Decline andFall of the Roman Empire, 1787. • He pointed out problems with contemporary England and tried to urge reform.

  46. Popularizing the Enlightenment

  47. A Parisian Salon

  48. Madame Geoffrin’s Salon

  49. The Salonnieres Madame Geoffrin(1699-1777) MadameSuzanne Necker(1739-1794) MademoiselleJulie de Lespinasse(1732*-1776)

  50. Denis Diderot (1713-1784)

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