Lecture 1: Enlightenment philosophy, RaceLecture 2: Salons, Music, Literature, Enlightened Despotism

Lecture 1: Enlightenment philosophy, RaceLecture 2: Salons, Music, Literature, Enlightened Despotism

Chapter 17: Toward a New World View

“Siecle de Lumiere”“The Century of Light”

Chapter 17: Toward a New World View

“Siecle de Lumiere”“The Century of Light”

Why did the Enlightenment begin(reached its height) in

France?

Why did the Enlightenment begin(reached its height) in

France?1. French was the international

language of the educated classes in the 18thc.

2. In France, intellectual radicals could battle opposition without level of restraints found in rest of Europe.

3. French philosophes were indeed asking fundamental questions.

1. French was the international language of the educated classes in the 18thc.

2. In France, intellectual radicals could battle opposition without level of restraints found in rest of Europe.

3. French philosophes were indeed asking fundamental questions.

Deism: “Religion of the Thinker’s

Deism: “Religion of the Thinker’s

Enlightenment thinker’s did not denounce religion.

These thinker’s opted for Deismis a religious and philosophical belief that a supreme being created the universe, and that this (and religious truth in general) can be determined using reason and observation of the natural world alone, without a need for either faith or organized religion.

Enlightenment thinker’s did not denounce religion.

These thinker’s opted for Deismis a religious and philosophical belief that a supreme being created the universe, and that this (and religious truth in general) can be determined using reason and observation of the natural world alone, without a need for either faith or organized religion.

Connection across time:Connection across time: Today: World Union of Diests—God

gave us reason-not religionThe World Union of Deists and

THINK! were founded in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.A., on April 10, 1993 by Bob Johnson.

Today: World Union of Diests—God gave us reason-not religion

The World Union of Deists and THINK! were founded in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.A., on April 10, 1993 by Bob Johnson.

Philosophes met in salons to discuss the issues of

the day!

Philosophes met in salons to discuss the issues of

the day!

Turn to pg. 536 and review the questions:Turn to pg. 536 and

review the questions:

Denis Diderot& Jean le Rond d’Alembert

Denis Diderot& Jean le Rond d’Alembert

Editors of a 17 volume encyclopedia with 100,000s of articles that exalted science, questioned religion, & criticized intolerance, legal injustice, and anachronistic social institutions.

Editors of a 17 volume encyclopedia with 100,000s of articles that exalted science, questioned religion, & criticized intolerance, legal injustice, and anachronistic social institutions.

Thomas HobbesThomas Hobbes

English Civil War People were selfish &

wicked by nature

social contract People must give up

their rights to a strong rule to gain law & order

Leviathan Ruler needs total

power to keep citizens under control

Absolute Monarchy

English Civil War People were selfish &

wicked by nature

social contract People must give up

their rights to a strong rule to gain law & order

Leviathan Ruler needs total

power to keep citizens under control

Absolute Monarchy

John LockeJohn Locke Natural Rights

Life, liberty & property; Property most impt.

U.S. Dec.Indep.espouses these rights!(Jefferson)

Govt.’s power comes by consent of peoplePopular consent & Right to

rebel if gov’t doesn’t protect rights!

Foundation of modern democracy

Concept of tabula rasa!!Children are born blank slates…The unformed, featureless mind.The importance of parents’ influence

then in paramount

Natural RightsLife, liberty & property;

Property most impt. U.S. Dec.Indep.espouses

these rights!(Jefferson) Govt.’s power comes by

consent of peoplePopular consent & Right to

rebel if gov’t doesn’t protect rights!

Foundation of modern democracy

Concept of tabula rasa!!Children are born blank slates…The unformed, featureless mind.The importance of parents’ influence

then in paramount

Locke, con’t Locke, con’t

3 concepts of gov’t:1. Consent of the

goverened2. a social contract

between a fair gov’t & responsible citizens

3. right to revolution!

3 concepts of gov’t:1. Consent of the

goverened2. a social contract

between a fair gov’t & responsible citizens

3. right to revolution!

Locke believed Property was the most impt. of his natural rights!

Locke believed Property was the most impt. of his natural rights!

Philosophes Advocate Reason

Philosophes Advocate Reason

5 Important Concepts…Reason/Logical

ThinkingNatureHappinessProgressLiberty

5 Important Concepts…Reason/Logical

ThinkingNatureHappinessProgressLiberty

VoltaireVoltaire Most brilliant & influential: “Ecrasez l’infame!”

Targeted clergy, aristocracy & govt.

Arrested twice & exiled to England

Mocked French laws, customs & Christianity

Fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief & freedom of speech

Humanity’s worst enemies: Intolerance, prejudice &

superstition “I may not agree with a word

you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it!”

Most brilliant & influential: “Ecrasez l’infame!”

Targeted clergy, aristocracy & govt.

Arrested twice & exiled to England

Mocked French laws, customs & Christianity

Fought for tolerance, reason, freedom of religious belief & freedom of speech

Humanity’s worst enemies: Intolerance, prejudice &

superstition “I may not agree with a word

you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it!”

MontesquieuMontesquieuPolitical Liberty“Spirit of Laws”Separation of

powersDivision of power

among different branches

Check & balancesBlueprint for U.S.

Constitution“Power should be

a check to power”

Political Liberty“Spirit of Laws”Separation of

powersDivision of power

among different branches

Check & balancesBlueprint for U.S.

Constitution“Power should be

a check to power”

Jean Jacques RousseauJean Jacques Rousseau Individual Freedom Civilization corrupted

people's natural goodness Strongest among people

forced obedience of unjust laws Freedom & equality were

destroyed Direct Democracy The Social Contract “Man is born free, but

everywhere in chains.” Belief in popular

sovereignty

Individual Freedom Civilization corrupted

people's natural goodness Strongest among people

forced obedience of unjust laws Freedom & equality were

destroyed Direct Democracy The Social Contract “Man is born free, but

everywhere in chains.” Belief in popular

sovereignty

Rousseau (con’t)Rousseau (con’t)

Civilization represents decay, not progress

Emile-protect children from too many books

The Social Contract(1762) and the “General Will”

Civilization represents decay, not progress

Emile-protect children from too many books

The Social Contract(1762) and the “General Will”

Justice systemLaws exist to

preserve social order, not avenge crimes

On Crimes & Punishments(1764)

Punishment = CrimeAbolish torture &

capital punishment8th Amendment

Justice systemLaws exist to

preserve social order, not avenge crimes

On Crimes & Punishments(1764)

Punishment = CrimeAbolish torture &

capital punishment8th Amendment

Cesare BeccariaCesare Beccaria

Mary WollstonecraftMary WollstonecraftVery persuasive Equality

Women VS. MenEducationPoliticsOccupationsA Vindication of the

Rights of Woman

Mary Shelley: daughterWrote Frankenstein

Very persuasive Equality

Women VS. MenEducationPoliticsOccupationsA Vindication of the

Rights of Woman

Mary Shelley: daughterWrote Frankenstein

Baruch Spinoza 1632-1677Baruch Spinoza 1632-1677

Jewish Philosopher Amsterdam Mind and body united

in one substance God and nature were

two names of the same things

Good and evil were merely relative values

Jewish Philosopher Amsterdam Mind and body united

in one substance God and nature were

two names of the same things

Good and evil were merely relative values

Immanuel Kant(1724-1804)

Immanuel Kant(1724-1804) One of the few philosophes to

see the French Rev. Prussian philosopher and author More optimistic than Rousseau. Critique of Pure Reason He said, Sapere aude! (dare to

know)! ’Have the courage to use your own understanding’ is therefore the motto of enlightenment that Kant gave in “What is Enlightenment?”

One of the few philosophes to see the French Rev.

Prussian philosopher and author More optimistic than Rousseau. Critique of Pure Reason He said, Sapere aude! (dare to

know)! ’Have the courage to use your own understanding’ is therefore the motto of enlightenment that Kant gave in “What is Enlightenment?”

Human mind is nothing but a bundle of impressions

Reason can’t decipher anything about the origins of the universe or the existence of God

Was an empiricist-knowledge comes to a person exclusively through experience.

Underminded the Enlightenment philosophy of reason!

Human mind is nothing but a bundle of impressions

Reason can’t decipher anything about the origins of the universe or the existence of God

Was an empiricist-knowledge comes to a person exclusively through experience.

Underminded the Enlightenment philosophy of reason!

David Hume(1711-1776)David Hume(1711-1776)

Jonathan Swift Jonathan Swift

Gulliver’s Travels – 1726

A Modest Proposal - 1729

(Text Page 177)

Gulliver’s Travels – 1726

A Modest Proposal - 1729

(Text Page 177)

Impact of EnlightenmentOutcomes…

Impact of EnlightenmentOutcomes…

Human reason could solve social problems

Secular, worldly outlookBetter society as a

whole

Rise of Individualism

Human reason could solve social problems

Secular, worldly outlookBetter society as a

whole

Rise of Individualism

Impact Cont.Impact Cont.Physiocrats

developedGroup of thinkers

called “economists” by their critics

Laissez-faire->gov’t “hands off.” French for “let do.”

Adam SmithEnglishPublished Wealth of

Nations - 1776

Physiocrats developedGroup of thinkers

called “economists” by their critics

Laissez-faire->gov’t “hands off.” French for “let do.”

Adam SmithEnglishPublished Wealth of

Nations - 1776

II. The Enlightenment

E. Race and the Enlightenment 1. Carl von Linne 2. David Hume and Immanuel Kant 3. The Concept of “Race”

II. The Enlightenment

E. Race and the Enlightenment 1. Carl von Linne 2. David Hume and Immanuel Kant 3. The Concept of “Race”

. Race and the Enlightenment (the Enlightenment represented a turning point in European ideas about race)

. Race and the Enlightenment (the Enlightenment represented a turning point in European ideas about race)

1. Carl von Linne – Swedish botanist and author of The System of Nature (1735)

who claimed that nature was organized into a God-given hierarchy with distinct species and races

2. David Hume and Immanuel Kant - Claimed that there were four human races that had derived

from a original race of “white brunette” people, the white inhabitants of northern Germany.

3. The Concept of “Race” –Used to designate biologically distinct groups of humans and

contained assumptions of superiority and inferiority (which could justify enslavement or conquest). Not all Enlightenment thinkers, however, agreed with such concepts of race.

1. Carl von Linne – Swedish botanist and author of The System of Nature (1735)

who claimed that nature was organized into a God-given hierarchy with distinct species and races

2. David Hume and Immanuel Kant - Claimed that there were four human races that had derived

from a original race of “white brunette” people, the white inhabitants of northern Germany.

3. The Concept of “Race” –Used to designate biologically distinct groups of humans and

contained assumptions of superiority and inferiority (which could justify enslavement or conquest). Not all Enlightenment thinkers, however, agreed with such concepts of race.

Jewish Life and the Limits of Enlightened

Absolutism 1. Jewish Life 2. Haskalah 3. Tolerance

Jewish Life and the Limits of Enlightened

Absolutism 1. Jewish Life 2. Haskalah 3. Tolerance

Jewish Life and the Limits of Enlightened Absolutism

Jewish Life and the Limits of Enlightened Absolutism

1. Jewish Life – Characterized by legal discrimination, confinement to tiny ghettos,

and prominence in international trade. 2. Haskalah – Enlightenment movement led by Moses Mendelssohn (1729–1786)

that argued for freedom and civil rights for European Jews. 3. Tolerance – Attempts to naturalize Jews gained some ground (in Austria), but

moved slowly because of public hostility (as in Britain) or the opposition of monarchs (like Frederick the Great or Catherine the Great). The French Revolution was the first time when all restrictions were abolished in Western and Central Europe.

1. Jewish Life – Characterized by legal discrimination, confinement to tiny ghettos,

and prominence in international trade. 2. Haskalah – Enlightenment movement led by Moses Mendelssohn (1729–1786)

that argued for freedom and civil rights for European Jews. 3. Tolerance – Attempts to naturalize Jews gained some ground (in Austria), but

moved slowly because of public hostility (as in Britain) or the opposition of monarchs (like Frederick the Great or Catherine the Great). The French Revolution was the first time when all restrictions were abolished in Western and Central Europe.

To know…from your reading

To know…from your reading

Reading revolutionThe transition in Europe from a society where literacy

consisted of patriarchal and communal reading of religious texts to a society where literacy was commonplace and reading material was broad and diverse.

Public sphereAn idealized intellectual space that emerged in Europe

during the Enlightenment, where the public came together to discuss important issues relating to society, economics, and politics

Coffeehouse Culture: Living in the Past, page 538!

Reading revolutionThe transition in Europe from a society where literacy

consisted of patriarchal and communal reading of religious texts to a society where literacy was commonplace and reading material was broad and diverse.

Public sphereAn idealized intellectual space that emerged in Europe

during the Enlightenment, where the public came together to discuss important issues relating to society, economics, and politics

Coffeehouse Culture: Living in the Past, page 538!