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The Age of enlightenment (/The age of reason)

The Age of enlightenment (/The age of reason). (17 th ?-)18 th century Europe “ Sapere aude ! Have courage to use your own intelligence!” (Kant, “What Is Enlightenment?” 1784). Intellectual Background. Scientific revolution Francis Bacon and the scientific method Empiricism

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The Age of enlightenment (/The age of reason)

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  1. The Age of enlightenment(/The age of reason) (17th?-)18th century Europe “Sapereaude! Have courage to use your own intelligence!” (Kant, “What Is Enlightenment?” 1784)

  2. Intellectual Background • Scientific revolution • Francis Bacon and the scientific method • Empiricism • Isaac Newton and Principia Mathematica • Mechanistic world view / Deism • =>empirical analysis and mechanistic explanation of the laws of human behavior and interaction

  3. Enlightenment Principles • RELIANCE ON REASON • Accept knowledge based on observation, logic, and reason, not on faith • PROGRESS • Like the physical world, human nature can be understood and enhanced by discovering its natural laws

  4. The PhilosopheMovement • Progress: Human history is largely a history of the improvement of humanity in three respects: • a) developing a knowledge of the natural world and the ability to manipulate the world through technology; • b) overcoming ignorance bred of superstitions and religions; • c) overcoming human cruelty and violence through social improvements and government structures. • Deism: Deism is a term coined in the philosophe movement and applies to two related ideas: • a) religion should be reasonable and should result in the highest moral behavior of its adherents; • b) the knowledge of the natural world and the human world has nothing to do whatsoever with religion and should be approached completely free from religious ideas or convictions. • Tolerance: The greatest human crimes, as far as the philosophes were concerned, have been perpetrated in the name of religion and the name of God. A fair, just, and productive society absolutely depends on religious tolerance. This means not merely tolerance of varying Christian sects, but tolerance of non-Christian religions as well (for some philosophes ).

  5. Voltaire • Born François Marie Arouet in 1694 • Strong supporter of Freedom of Speech, Thought, & Religion • Humans are liars, traitors, ingrates, thieves, misers, killers, fanatics, hypocrites, fools and so on. Yet, it’s normal. • Believed government should ensure personal freedoms • Satirist who wrote about the French Monarchy, the nobility, and the church • Imprisoned twice in France for his views

  6. Candide • Published 1759 • Inspired by Swift • Satire on philosophical optimism • Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz argues that everything has a purpose; hence we live in the “best of all possible worlds” • Problem of Evil (Seven Years’ War, Lisbon Earthquake) • Propaganda • Personal agenda • Humor • Humanitarian?

  7. Essay on Man • All nature is but art, unknown to thee; • All chance, direction which thou canst not 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 • Alexander Pope, 1733-34

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