Enlightenment Era

1. Enlightenment Era Lauren Weiss, Madison Bozidarevic, and LhitoCamson

2. History • The enlightenment era was mainly a cultural movement during the early 18th century. • Progression of new innovations in science and philosophy. • Speculations over religious morals • Known as The Age of Reason

3. The Unjust Politics • Political in nature-Freedom through democracy • More fundamental rights of the people not designated from a religious official • Experimentation with elections for leadership • More accepted forms of debate and discussion • Realization of a greater potential with representation from the public • Addition of political positions and social empowerment of citizens

4. Pursuit of science • Period of scientific rationalism • Expansion of the scientific method • Francis Bacon and Isaac Newton are known for their scientific renovations during this period • Science and logic began to overrule the influence of the church and religious teachings • Used to advance areas such as industrialization

5. Science continued • Relevance to the excerpt: • “Omniscient, who in all things wise and just,” • Suggesting that to be wise, one must know everything • Need to advance knowledge from religion to all practices, especially science

6. Exploration of Philosophy • With the new century came many revolutions in science, philosophy, society, and politics • This era was characterized as “the century of philosophy par excellence”, because people often believed that philosophy would dramatically improve human life • Example: In Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, Crusoe is stuck in the wilderness on his own and he forms his own little society. This leads him to question nature and explore the relationship between man and society, which is something many people of the time could relate to.

7. Questioning of Religion • Enlightenment is the process of undertaking to think for oneself, to employ and rely on one’s own intellectual capacities in determining what to believe and how to act” • People believed that beliefs were to be accepted only on the basis of reason, therefore, Enlightenment thinkers often tended to atheism • Example: Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe tells the story of a man who is a prodigal son struggling against the will of God and questioning his beliefs just like many of the people during this era.

8. New Sense of Individualism • As improvements in science steadily advanced, people began to focus on the individual than the herd. • Economic and Political independence in the American colonies • American revolution • Lines 9-11 on poem sheet • Wanted to take life in their own hands • Western Expansion • Novels no longer emotional but scientific and about the individual and their goals • Jonathan Swifts’ Gulliver’s Travels • Story of one man’s beliefs and morals

9. Introduction of Satire • Way to nonviolently protest unjust laws and governments • Sarcasm, irony, wit – to try and change society for the better • Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal • Tried to get society to care and help the poor • Lines 12-16 on poem sheet • Major Authors: • William Hogarth – started using satire against politics and art(tense political climate) • Voltaire – attacked scientists and theologians with impunity(safe way to vent) • Swift – parallel to English gov.

10. Art • Focused on advancements in technology and science • Condemned the immoral and indecent • Lines 116-117 on poem sheet • Joseph Wright’s A Philosopher Giving A Lecture at the Orrery

11. Art continued How did art display the Tenets projected in this Era?

12. Questions • What was the Enlightenment era straying away from? Why? • When was the enlightenment era? • Tenets such as science and philosophy gave an idea that thoughts should be based upon ?