the enlightenment. an overview of the 18c political history >>> political history ...
TRANSCRIPT
The EnlightenmentThe Enlightenment
An Overview of the 18c Political History Political History >>> >>> Reform
Intellectual History Intellectual History Newtonian Physics Reason
Cultural History Cultural History Individualism
Social History Social History Increased Literacy “Age of Aristocracy”
Economic History Economic History > > Mercantilism to Capitalism
18c Politics BRITAIN – – Constitutional MonarchyConstitutional Monarchy
FRANCE Royal AbsolutismRoyal Absolutism (cultural and religious (cultural and religious unity)unity)
PRUSSIA, HABSBURG EMPIRE, RUSSIA “Enlightened Despotism”“Enlightened Despotism”
OTTOMAN EMPIRE – – traditionaltraditional empire empire
An intellectual and cultural movement…An intellectual and cultural movement…
The methods of natural science could be used to The methods of natural science could be used to examine and understand examine and understand all aspects of lifeall aspects of life..
The scientific method was capable of discovering The scientific method was capable of discovering the laws of human the laws of human societysociety as well as those of as well as those of naturenature..
It was possible for humans to create It was possible for humans to create better better societiessocieties and better people. ( and better people. (progressprogress))
The enlightenment did not have much appeal for The enlightenment did not have much appeal for the poorer classes. They were just trying to survive the poorer classes. They were just trying to survive and the enlight. threatened their popular beliefs.and the enlight. threatened their popular beliefs.
The Characteristics of the Enlightenment
Rationalism Rationalism reason is the arbiter of all reason is the arbiter of all things. things.
Cosmology Cosmology a new concept of man, his a new concept of man, his existence on earth, & the existence on earth, & the place of the earth in the place of the earth in the universe. universe.
Secularism Secularism application of the methods application of the methods of science to religion & of science to religion &
philosophy. philosophy.
Scientific MethodScientific Method– Mathematical analysisMathematical analysis– ExperimentationExperimentation– Inductive reasoning.Inductive reasoning.
Tolerance Tolerance No opinion is worth No opinion is worth
burning your burning your neighbor neighbor for. for.
Optimism & Self-ConfidenceOptimism & Self-Confidence– The belief that man is intrinsically The belief that man is intrinsically
good.good.– The belief in social progress.The belief in social progress.
FreedomFreedom– Of thought and expression.Of thought and expression.– Bring liberty to all men (modern Bring liberty to all men (modern
battle against absolutism).battle against absolutism).
Education of the MassesEducation of the Masses
Legal ReformsLegal Reforms– Justice, kindness, and charity Justice, kindness, and charity no no
torture or indiscriminant torture or indiscriminant incarceration.incarceration.
– Due process of law. Due process of law.
ConstitutionalismConstitutionalism– Written constitutions Written constitutions listing listing
citizens, rights.citizens, rights.
The Royal Academy of Sciences, Paris
The “Great Debate”
Reason& LogicReason& Logic
Traditionsand
Superstitions
Traditionsand
Superstitions
rationalisrationalismm
empiricisempiricismm
tolerancetolerance skepticisskepticis
mm DeismDeism
nostalgia for nostalgia for the the pastpast
organized organized religionsreligions
irrationalismirrationalism emotionalismemotionalism
The PhilosophesThe Philosophes
French term for philosopherFrench term for philosopher
They were an influential group of intellectuals.They were an influential group of intellectuals.
Asked philosophical questions about the Asked philosophical questions about the meaning of life, God, human nature, good and meaning of life, God, human nature, good and evil, cause and effectevil, cause and effect
The philosophes brought Enlightenment ideas The philosophes brought Enlightenment ideas to the ignorant people and brought the to the ignorant people and brought the Enlightenment to its highest stage of Enlightenment to its highest stage of development in France.development in France.
video
John Locke (1632-1704)
Natural rights: life, liberty, property
Letter on TolerationLetter on Toleration, , 16891689
Two Treatises ofTwo Treatises ofGovernmentGovernment, 1690, 1690
Some ThoughtsSome ThoughtsConcerningConcerningEducationEducation, 1693, 1693
The ReasonablenessThe Reasonablenessof Christianityof Christianity, 1695, 1695
John Locke’s Philosophy
► The individual must become a The individual must become a “rational“rationalcreature.”creature.”
► Virtue can be learned and Virtue can be learned and practiced.practiced.
► Human beings possess free will.Human beings possess free will.
they should be prepared for they should be prepared for freedom.freedom.
obedience should be out of obedience should be out of conviction,conviction,not out of fear.not out of fear.
Legislators owe their power to aLegislators owe their power to a contractcontract with the peoplewith the people..
Neither kings nor wealth are divinely Neither kings nor wealth are divinely ordained.ordained.
There are certain natural rights that There are certain natural rights that are endowed by God to all human are endowed by God to all human beings.beings.– life, liberty, property!life, liberty, property!
John Locke’s Philosophy con’t
► The doctrine of the Divine The doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings was Right of Kings was nonsense.nonsense.
► He favored a republic as the He favored a republic as the best form of government.best form of government.
Montesquieu (1689-1755)
Separation of Powers
Persian LettersPersian Letters, , 1721 1721
On the Spirit of On the Spirit of LawsLaws, 1758, 1758
Montesquieu’s Philosophy
► Three types of government:Three types of government: Monarchy.Monarchy. Republic.Republic. Despotism.Despotism.
A separation of political A separation of political powers ensured freedom powers ensured freedom and liberty.and liberty.
Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
► A Discourse A Discourse on the on the Sciences and Sciences and ArtsArts, 1750, 1750
► Emile, 1762.Emile, 1762.
► The Social The Social Contract, Contract, 1762.1762.
Rousseau attacked rationalism and Rousseau attacked rationalism and civilizationcivilization
claimed that children must develop claimed that children must develop naturally and spontaneouslynaturally and spontaneously
The Social ContractThe Social Contract argued that the argued that the general will of the people is sacred general will of the people is sacred and absolute. and absolute.
VoltaireVoltaire
Francois Marie Arouet
Voltaire challenged traditional Catholic Voltaire challenged traditional Catholic theology and exhibited a characteristic theology and exhibited a characteristic philosophe belief in a philosophe belief in a distant Goddistant God who let who let human affairs take their own course. human affairs take their own course. DeismDeism
He opposed legal injustice and unequal He opposed legal injustice and unequal treatment before the law. treatment before the law.
He was skeptical of social and economic He was skeptical of social and economic equality; he equality; he hated religious intolerancehated religious intolerance. .
► “ “I may not agree with what you have to I may not agree with what you have to say,say, but I will defend to the death your right to but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” say it.”
Video\Voltaire__1694_1778_.asf
Diderot and D’AlemebertDiderot and D’Alemebert
Editors of the Encyclopedia
The The EncyclopediaEncyclopedia
Examined all of human knowledge and attempted to teach people how to think critically and rationally.
An original edition of the Encyclopedia
28 volumes.28 volumes.
Alphabetical, cross-referenced,Alphabetical, cross-referenced,illustrated.illustrated.
First published in 1751.First published in 1751.
1500 1500 livreslivres a set. a set.
Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedie
Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedie
Pages from Diderot’s Encyclopedie
Spreading Enlightenment IdeasSpreading Enlightenment Ideas
Enlightenment ideas--including new ideas Enlightenment ideas--including new ideas about women's rights--were spread in the about women's rights--were spread in the salonssalons of upperclass women. of upperclass women.
Madame Geoffrin's salon was famous; she Madame Geoffrin's salon was famous; she was the unofficial godmother of the was the unofficial godmother of the EncyclopediaEncyclopedia. .
These salons seemed to have functioned These salons seemed to have functioned as informal "schools" for women.as informal "schools" for women.
A Parisian Salon
The Salonnieres
Madame Madame GeoffrinGeoffrin
(1699-1777)(1699-1777)MademoiselleMademoiselle
Julie de Julie de LespinasseLespinasse
(1732*-1776)(1732*-1776)
MadameMadameSuzanne Suzanne NeckerNecker
(1739-1794)(1739-1794)
Madame Geoffrin’s SalonMadame Geoffrin’s Salon
Enlightened DespotsEnlightened Despots Many philosophes believed that "enlightened" Many philosophes believed that "enlightened"
reform would come by way of "enlightened" reform would come by way of "enlightened" monarchs. monarchs.
The rulers seemed to seek the philosophes' The rulers seemed to seek the philosophes' advice. advice.
The philosophes distrusted the masses and The philosophes distrusted the masses and believed that change had to come from believed that change had to come from above. above.
The most influential of the new style The most influential of the new style monarchs were in Prussia, Russia, and Austria. monarchs were in Prussia, Russia, and Austria.
Frederick the GreatFrederick the Great
1712 -– 1786.1712 -– 1786.
Succeeded his Succeeded his father,father, Frederick William I Frederick William I (the “Soldier King”). (the “Soldier King”).
He saw himselfHe saw himself as the as the “First “First Servant of Servant of the State.”the State.”Video\Frederick the Great
Frederick allowed Frederick allowed religious freedomreligious freedom and promoted and promoted educationeducation, , legallegal reform, and economic growth reform, and economic growth
Allowed the Junker nobility to keep Allowed the Junker nobility to keep the middle-class from power in the middle-class from power in government. government.
Frederick Frederick allowed the repression of allowed the repression of Prussian Jews-Prussian Jews--who were confined to -who were confined to overcrowded ghettos. overcrowded ghettos.
Catherine the GreatCatherine the Great
German Princess Sophie Friederike German Princess Sophie Friederike Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst. 1729 – 1796Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst. 1729 – 1796
Catherine II imported Western culture Catherine II imported Western culture to Russia, supported the philosophes, to Russia, supported the philosophes, and began a program of and began a program of domestic domestic reformreform..
The Pugachev uprising in 1773 led her The Pugachev uprising in 1773 led her to reverse the trend toward reform of to reverse the trend toward reform of serfdom and give nobles serfdom and give nobles absolute absolute control of their serfscontrol of their serfs. .
The Partitions of Poland
- - 17721772
- - 17931793
- - 17951795
Maria Theresa and Joseph IIMaria Theresa and Joseph II
The Austrian HabsburgsThe Austrian Habsburgs
Maria Theresa introduced reforms Maria Theresa introduced reforms – limited church powerlimited church power– revised the tax system and bureaucracyrevised the tax system and bureaucracy– reduced the power of the lords over the serfs. reduced the power of the lords over the serfs.
Her successor, Joseph II, was a dedicated Her successor, Joseph II, was a dedicated reformer who reformer who abolished serfdomabolished serfdom, taxed all , taxed all equally, and granted equally, and granted religious freedomreligious freedom. .
Because of opposition from both the Because of opposition from both the nobles and the peasants, Joseph's reforms nobles and the peasants, Joseph's reforms were were short livedshort lived. .
Influence of the EnlightenmentInfluence of the Enlightenment
In France, the rise of judicial and In France, the rise of judicial and aristocratic opposition combined with aristocratic opposition combined with liberalism put absolutism on the defensive.liberalism put absolutism on the defensive.
In eastern Europe, the results of In eastern Europe, the results of enlightened absolutism were modest and enlightened absolutism were modest and absolutism remained strongabsolutism remained strong. .
By combining state building with the By combining state building with the culture and critical thinking of the culture and critical thinking of the Enlightenment, absolute monarchs Enlightenment, absolute monarchs succeeded in expanding the role of the succeeded in expanding the role of the state in the life of societystate in the life of society