The Enlightenment: An Age of Reason

1. The Enlightenment: An Age of Reason

2. The Scientific Revolution (16th and 17th century) • Nicholas Copernicus • Heliocentric model challenges both established science and the Church • Opens the door to the questioning of other realms • Francis Bacon • Scientific Method – man can now use reason to explain the world around him – no need for God in science

3. Bacon’s Scientific Method

4. Isaac Newton • Develops mathematical ideas that explain the physical universe • Laws of Motion • An object in motion will remain in motion • Force = mass X acceleration • For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction

5. 18th century Enlightenment – The Age of Reason • Revolution in philosophy • Philosophers, inspired by scientists, started questioning God and God’s role in society • Particular emphasis was placed on criticizing government and the church • Paris, France was the hotbed of reason – rather ironically, it was also the center of Absolutism and Divine Right • Philosophers wrote the words that inspired revolutionaries, both in America and in France

6. John Locke and Jean Jacque Rousseau • Locke • English philosopher • Believed that men are entitled to life, liberty and PROPERTY • Inspiration for the American founding fathers (all were rich, white, educated men) • Government should protect us from us – first priority was to provide security and order • Rousseau • French Philosopher • Believed that all men are entitiled to life, liberty and EQUALITY • Inspiration for the French revolutionaries (many women and poor commoners) • Government should promote equality among all men

7. John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau

8. The “Social Contract” • Men form governments. • Governments must respond to the needs of men. • If a government does not respond to the needs of men, men have the right to change the government.

9. Views on the Social Contract • Who are the “men”? Who determines whether or not the government is serving the needs of men? • What does it mean to “change” the government? • There have been different answers to these questions from throughout history…………….. • Locke • Rousseau • American Founding Fathers • French Revolutionaries • Karl Marx • Southern leaders in the US in 1861 • Vladimir Lenin • Chairman Mao • What about today?

10. Voltaire • French philosopher who attacked the Church and the French government though his short novel, Candide and other works • Advocated freedom of religion and separation of church and state • Advocated the right of citizens to a fair and impartial trial

11. Adam Smith • English economist and philosopher who attacked the idea of government intervention in the economy • Advocated “laissez-faire” economics (hands off) • Believed in a pure capitalist system where the “law of supply and demand” would determine prices

12. David Hume • English philosopher who questioned the existence of God • Used a logical and scientific argument to question faith • Since faith itself is irrational, what makes one faith right for everyone? • Heavily criticized by the Anglican Church, of which he was a member, but never wavered in his views

13. Deism and the Watchmaker Theory • Enlightenment age religion that advocated a belief in God (even if that belief was irrational) • God was there in the beginning, and will be there in the end, but in between we’re on our own • Imagine an old style windup watch……God made the watch and wound it up, but then left it alone. He’ll be back when the watch needs to be rewound • No need for prayer or worship – it’s counterproductive – God’s not listening anyway • Humans have ultimate free choice and free will • Many of the American founding fathers believed in Deism – Thomas Jefferson was probably the most famous • Voltaire also advocated Deism and the right to freedom of religion

14. Enlightment Ideas in the New World The American Revolution

15. The American Revolution • Not really a classic “revolution” in the sense that a social class did not revolt against the one above it • Really more of a war for independence, but it did incorporate rhetoric from the Age of Reason • American revolutionary LEADERS studied Locke and others – they certainly believed in the rhetoric, but the average “patriot” in the street paid little in the way of taxes, so “no taxation without representation” was little more than a slogan. • The new government formed after the revolution was at least outwardly based on enlightenment principles, although it would be decades before most of those principles were actually put into practice – think of how long it took women to receive the vote.

16. Declaration of Independence • Written by Thomas Jefferson • Restatement of the social contract • List of grievances – what King George III did to break the contract • Considered the first true government document containing enlightenment principles • Used as a pattern for revolutions around the world

17. Enlightenment Ideas in the Old World Enlightened Despotism in Central and Eastern Europe

18. Enlightened Despotism • Idea found in Central and Eastern Europe whereby monarchs and emperors made changes to their societies in which modernized the states while the people earned some political and social rights • Monarchs still maintained absolute control, but instead of justifying their rule by divine right (God), they instead saw themselves at the head of the people • Most of the ideas were really designed to PREVENT revolution (governments must serve the needs of men) • Many of the reforms were eventually rescinded after the people tried to get even more rights (revolutions were often brutally repressed

19. Fredrick the Great of Prussia Emperor of Prussia in the Northern Germanic Lands Modernized the military and opened officer positions to middle and lower classes Modernized the Prussian government and opened positions to people of merit instead of cronies

20. Catherine the Great of Russia • Modernized the Russian army and government • Studied in France during the Enlightenment • Tried to link Russia to the West through trade and diplomatic relations • Increased Russia’s territory, especially against the Ottomans (Turks) – sought to link Russia to its Slavic neighbors to the south

21. Maria Theresa and Joseph II of the Hapsburg Empire (Austria)Note – mother and brother to Marie Antoinette (Queen of France) • Serfdom abolished in the Hapsburg Lands • Granted freedom of religion (very radical idea, especially in a Catholic empire) • Established a national education system • Developed equality before the law, even for the nobility • Many of the reforms were rolled back after revolutions broke out among the minority populations of the Hapsburg Empire