The age of Enlightenment.

Eighteenth Century France

The objectives of this slide show are: • In what ways was the enlightenment and outgrowth of the

Scientific Revolution

• What were some of the

new fads of thought

that also occurred during the enlightenment?

• Indentify the importance of the

Encyclopedia

• Assess the importance of

Montesquieu’s

ideas on the American Revolution • You will know the

main targets of the criticisms

of Voltaire and Rousseau.

• You will learn how the Callas case was a case for the

freedom of all mankind

against despotic government.

The Enlightenment was an extension of the Scientific Revolution

It took place against the backdrop of the various European Wars, including: • The War of Spanish Succession • The War of Austrian Succession • The Seven Years War

These terrible wars, with their excessive death tolls, only added evidence to the claims of Enlightenment Philosophers

Human beings should be rational and not kill each other.

Total Losses: 991,500 [ K=1/4-1/3: 250-330,000] MEDIAN (interpolated & rounded) Military: 600,000 Civilian: 700,000 Total: 1,300,000

The Enlightenment was the belief that humankind will advance over time.

That better things were to come. . .

This was

different

than the prior belief that the times of the Ancients, Greece, Rome, and Biblical times had never and would never be surpassed

Science had helped to end Witchcraft and superstition

The ideas of science collided with the idea of God

Perhaps God was not so personal. Perhaps he was an intelligent human being who wound up the watch and let events unfold.

Many saw God as a “Watchmaker”— who wound the watch up and let it run…this was called deism.

..leaving human beings the freedom to govern themselves.

That God was governed by the natural laws that Newton laid down.

Therefore it was up to mankind to chose its destiny.

Two cultures collided with this belief—the popular and the elite.

During this exciting time, some tried a greater commitment to religion. In England, Handel wrote his great Messiah…

and John Wesley founded the Methodists. He preached in America. This religious agitation was part of the Great Awakening.

The great awakening is a part of American history, also.

The elite in society were not part of these upsets—they aligned themselves with the official churches: Anglican, Lutheran or Catholic.

At the same time, strange ideas also arose…these ideas were “fads” or areas of mystery.

J.C. Lavater spoke of physiognomy.

And F.A. Mesmer “mesmerized” people.

The ideas of Freemasonry took form in England and Colonial America.

The masons met secretly, had rituals, and, some said, had secret knowledge about ancient rites.

By the way, before we go on, where is our Masonic Temple in Salem?

The Masons were very popular among all walks of life. Even though they were a “secret” society, they met to discuss many enlightenment concepts.

A German offset of the Masons were the Illuminati.

Of course, the Illuminati, have been featured in a recent best-selling book— what is that book?

Right, the Da Vinci Code.

But of all these groups, the most enlightened and influential were the

Philosophes.

What’s a Philosophe?

They were men who were writers, literary critics, well known figures who popularized the ideas of the enlightenment.

We can even consider that Frederick the Great, Catherine the Great, and Joseph of Austria were also “philosophes” inasmuch as they advocated the ideas of the enlightenment.

A philosphe wrote and stirred the pot of new ideas.

Their audience was the informed public from all classes. They had a lot to say about the flaws of society.

Paris was the heart of this new movement.

And women provided the meeting places in their elegant salons.

The salons were legendary…intelligent women provided a setting for the philosophes to meet and discuss the challenges of the day.

Of course, it helped if the women were charming and witty.

They met on certain days of the week and discussed a variety of subjects.

In the salons, talent and creativity counted more than noble lineage.

In aristocratic circles, Society was still mainly concerned about appearances. The elaborate parties codified etiquette. Wit became most important. Guests competed to say the most erudite and witty comment. If they said something “wrong” they were openly ridiculed!

And one of the great ironies of these salons is that many revolutionary ideas would find their roots in these discussions.

The most famous achievement of the Enlightenment was the Encyclopedia.

The Encyclopedia is different than what we have on the shelves of our library today…

The Encyclopedia came to be a set of 17 very large volumes published between 1751 and 1772.

The publisher was a Denis Diderot.

People paid to have a volume of the Encyclopedia.

The Encyclopedia had articles on everything from philosophy to bone setting to making gears!

The goal of the Encyclopedia was to make available all the current up-to date technological, cultural, and philosophical knowledge of the day.

It was unique because it was purchased by people from all over Europe. Even small towns had at least one copy.

The information was shared, improved upon, and widely discussed: People were enlightened by its knowledge.

Montesquieu, Voltaire, and Rousseau.

The famous philosophes…

Our first philosophe is Monetesquieu (1689-1755) He developed important ideas that have a direct bearing on our American Society:

His revolutionary idea was the separation and balance of powers.

Power should be divided between the King and the People. He admired the English constitution.

This would have a strong influence on the Americans when they debated and wrote their constitution.

• Montesquieu’s ideas greatly influenced the founding fathers. They incorporated the idea of separation of powers into the constitution. Montesquieu is the “unknown” father of our country.

Voltaire

(1694-1778) One of the greatest minds of all time…

Voltaire lived a long time, traveled a lot, wrote a lot, and was very influential.

As a young man he spent time in the Bastille for his criticism of Louis XV’s regent, the Duke of Orleans .

He was a courtier of Madame de Pompadour, Louis XV and spent two years in Frederick the Great’s court.

He wrote social satires and was widely read.

Voltaire was the great champion of freedom of thought.

He believed in religious toleration.

One of his most famous quotes about religion was “Ecrasez l’infame!” which translated means “crush the infamous thing.” He was referring to the Catholic church.

He said that slavery was “ridiculous,” and a travesty of freedom.

He took on the defense of many who were victims of despotic power.

His most famous case was the Calas case.

Calas was a Protestant who was accused of killing his mentally ill son, who was a Catholic. In reality, the son had committed suicide.The local authorities (the local parlement) ordered that Calas be executed.

The elder Calas was broken at the wheel in a brutal, public execution.

Voltaire was excited about the case, and saw it as a very public chance to exonerate, and publicize the injustices inherent in France.

The Calas family was fully vindicated. This was a victory for liberty and a blow against injustice. This victory was the talk of Europe, and Voltaire was on the lips of all who loved freedom.

As an aristocrat, Voltaire was a believer in liberty—for “his kind”—that is the enlightened classes.

He didn’t think that the common folk..those of lower class origin,

Like you guys…

Were the ones that should be ruling France.

His younger counterpart, Rosseau, had different ideas…

Unlike Voltaire, Rosseau did not come from the upper classes. He was neglected as a child, a runaway at 16, and was largely self taught.

But his writings would have an even more lasting influence than Voltaire.

He attacked society as artificial and corrupt.

He criticized the salons…

He argued that much of civilization was evil and corrupt.

His book Emile condemned formal, rigid education.

Rousseau’s most important book was the Social Contract.

The contract was among the people themselves. This contract was the General Will. Individuals, though they had their own liberty, must surrender to the liberty of the masses—the General Will.

The founding fathers of America thought this idea of General Will was a bit strange…

This idea would be exploited in the French Revolution, to justify the use of widespread executions. It was the “General Will” that such atrocities happen.

Both totalitarians (dictators) and democrats have said that Rousseau’s General Will was part of their ideology.

Rousseau is also considered the “Father” of the Romantic movement.

His novels were widely read. They fostered a love of common things, common people. He said that women should nurse their own babies, and that people should clothe themselves in natural, loose clothing.

Voltaire thought Rousseau to be a joke—he said

“After I’ve read Rousseau, I feel like I have to get down on all fours.”

This return to nature influenced literature and fostered a few fads…

Some, like the French Queen Marie Antoinette, built fake “peasant’ villages where they could play like they were a milk maid!

The upper classes began to see their lives as artificial and shallow.

Voltaire and Rousseau were Enlightenment thinkers who influenced ideas of liberty.

The objectives of this slide show were: • In what ways was the enlightenment and outgrowth of the

Scientific Revolution

• What were some of the

new fads of thought

that also occurred during the enlightenment?

• Indentify the importance of the

Encyclopedia

• Assess the importance of

Montesquieu’s

ideas on the American Revolution • You will know the

main targets of the criticisms

of Voltaire and Rousseau.

• You will learn how the Callas case was a case for the

freedom of all mankind

against despotic government.