Age of Enlightenment

1. Age of Enlightenment

2. Enlightenment popularizes and builds on the works of Descartes, Bacon, Spinoza and especially Locke and Newton Philosophy of natural laws and rights

3. Many look to the political stability of England after the Revolution *religious toleration, except Unitarians and Catholics *Relative freedom of press and speech *limited monarchy *economy less regulated than France

4. What reformists on the Continent see are liberal policies that do not produce disorder or instability What England has is prosperity, stability and loyal citizens

5. Age of Enlightenment has: • Skepticism of tradition • Convinced of the power of human reason and science • Imbued with the sense of civilization’s advance and progress

6. The idea of progress is seen in the debate of the Ancients vs. the Moderns

7. The ancients believed the Greeks and the Romans were the peak of civilization and can not be topped • The Moderns looked at the current science, art, literature and feel the present time period is the best • Built on earlier achievements • If no progress, why try?

8. The concept of Rational Skepticism reaches all areas such as religion Deism – Watch maker God

9. Not everyone goes along with this thinking Immanuel Kant German philosopher His ideas are one of the foundations of American Transcendentalism

10. Reason comes not from common sense but intuition A moral law within man-conscience-is planted by God Man should try to follow good

11. Pietists Religion from the heart not the head Quest for the inner light of the soul Improvement of the individual

12. John Wesley Calls for methodical devotion to piety Plain dress and living Develops into the Methodist Church Work against slave trade, barbarous treatment of slave, insane and prisoners

13. Examples of religious feeling continuing to expand can be seen in music J. S. Bach write church music Handel write the Messiah

14. Freemasons

15. At the forefront of the Enlightenment are the Philosophes

16. The European public is more literate By 1780: 47% of men 27% of women are literate *more newspapers *more need for technical writings

17. Social effects on writing: • Public opinion • Reviews • Censorship

18. Goal of censorship is to protect the people from harmful ideas Level of censorship varies by countries England has little censorship Spain has severe censorship

19. France has several groups involved in censorship, but it is unevenly enforce so it is not a major problem

20. Laws forbid criticism of the Church or the Government Writers work around this by writing about the “Iroquois” or some made up culture

21. Jonathon Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels

22. Salons

23. Salons are social gatherings of the elite to discuss the latest literature, ideas and events Salons were given by a hostess, the wife of a member of the elite

24. Held salons on Mondays for artists and Wednesday for men of letters Many of the leading dignitaries attended these gatherings Madam de Geoffrin

25. Writer, opponent of Napoleon Has Salon for 25 years she "teaches people to think who never thought before, or who had forgotten how to think.“ Napoleon Germaine de Stael

26. The major Enlightenment undertaking, and most ambitious project was the Encyclopedia 17 volumes Denis Diderot

27. There are those individuals who are included as Philosophes or are supporters

28. Frederick the Great Friend of Voltaire write poems, histories, and satires

29. Catherine the Great of Russia Maria Theresa is too religious, but her son Joseph is included

30. David Hume Edward Gibbon

31. The three most important figures of the Enlightenment often disagreed in their works, but all write political commentaries and social analysis

32. Montesquieu

33. Major work: The Spirit of the Law Forms of government vary by climate & circumstance Separation and Balance of Power

34. Voltaire

35. Writes of new scientific ideas Calls for religious tolerance Looks to demystify, demiracle religion Candide

36. Rousseau

37. During the Enlightenment there is a new area of study from a group known as the Physiocrats

38. Most important Physiocrat is: Adam $mith

39. Enlightened Despotism

40. The Enlightened Despot does not necessarily do anything different, it is more about style

41. Enlightened Despot is: *secular -no claims of mandate from heaven -favors religious toleration -dislikes Jesuits

42. *Rational & reformist -dislikes custom, changes old ways to modern *Acts quickly -wants results now

43. Failure of Enlightened Despotism in France

44. King Louis XV Not particularly smart and liked to party

45. Louis XV not enlightened • not interested in big questions • Absorbed with routine of Versailles • Doesn’t want to make trouble • Only occasionally interested in running government

46. “After us, the deluge” Madam de Pompadour

47. Major problem is method for raising money Get some money through sale of offices and privleges

48. Tax on land – taille – paid only by peasants Nobles are exempt So are officeholders, middle class and the Church

49. Country has wealth but government is poor Several attempts are made at a new tax but fail 1740’s a 5% tax is placed on income of all classes

50. The tax is not popular, especially with the upper class Local parlement rule tax incompatible with the laws of France Provincial assemblies claim their historic liberties are violated