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The Enlightenment

The Enlightenment. Main Ideas: An intellectual movement called the Enlightenment moves through Europe. Colonists absorb the Enlightenment values emphasizing reason and the scientific method. Enlightenment ideas influence political thinking as well. Overview.

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The Enlightenment

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  1. The Enlightenment Main Ideas: An intellectual movement called the Enlightenment moves through Europe. Colonists absorb the Enlightenment values emphasizing reason and the scientific method. Enlightenment ideas influence political thinking as well.

  2. Overview • The Enlightenment is also known as The Age of Reason. • Why? • Intellectuals began to use logic and question everything. • Observation is used to discover new things about the world • Humans have natural rights • The scientific method is used

  3. What is the scientific method? • There are many steps to the scientific method. • The basics are: • Question • Form a theory • Test that theory • Question the theory (right or wrong?) • Continue

  4. Benefits of scientific inquiry during the Enlightenment • Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, and Sir Isaac Newton established that the Earth revolved around the sun. • Mathematicians founded that the world is governed by fixed mathematical laws. • Franklin’s experiments led to lightning rods, bifocal eyeglasses, and a stove that heated rooms more efficiently.

  5. Enlightenment in Art • There was not a huge push in Art during this time. • Neo classicism was popular. • There were more female painters.

  6. Enlightenment in Literature • Enlightenment views were distributed through books and pamphlets • Literacy was high in New England because the Puritans supported public education (mostly to read the Bible) • Neo classicism was closer to voicing the Enlightenment views in literature than in art

  7. Literature continued • The verbal media of poetry, drama, prose, and exposition were commonly used to convey the new philosophy • Alexander Pope is a famous poet during this time period. • Here is a sample of his writing from his most famous work, An Essay on Man (1733)

  8. An Essay on Man by Alexander Pope All are but parts of one stupendous whole, Whose body nature is, and God the soul… All nature is but art, unknown to thee; All chance, direction, which thou cannot see. All discord, harmony not understood; All partial evil, universal good And, spite of pride, in erring reason’s spite, One truth is clear: Whatever is, is right.

  9. Literature cont. • Two other famous Age of Reason poets: • Countess of Winchelsea • Strong voice for feminine equality • Phyllis Wheatley • Rhyming couplets • Pleaded the cause of freedom for the American colonies and her race

  10. Literature cont. • The novel became a major literary vehicle in this period • Popularized in England • Robinson Crusoe (1719) is called the first modern English novel • Famous novels from this time period define a natural human morality

  11. Fundamental concepts in Philosophy • Faith in nature • Belief in human progress • Nature is a system of interacting laws that govern the universe • Humans are apart of that system and were designed to act rationally • Humans would act rationally and be happy when they are free from needless restraints

  12. Philosophy cont. • Questioned the church • Hostile towards organized religion in favor of utopian reform • Believed passionately in human progress through education • Concerned for human worth

  13. Politics • Liberal ideas were that individuals had natural rights and that government was an agreement of contract between the people and their ruler • Both government and citizen had rights and responsibilities • Power needed to be separated and balanced • Laws should be agreed upon by both the ruler and those who were ruled

  14. Politics cont. • Change from absolutism and the divine rights of Kings • Rulers which abused their power and did not protect the rights of citizens were corrupt • People had the right to rebel • Citizens should expect that their right to freedom of speech without censorship was protected as well as many other natural rights

  15. Politics cont. • Some people wanted freedom of religion • People wanted everyone to have a say in laws and government (suffrage) • After the Revolutions (French and American), many countries began to draw up constitutions which reflected these ideas • Basic idea= The greatest good for the greatest number

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