The Enlightenment: Origins, Spread and Principles

• The Enlightenment was a movement in 18th-century Europe that emphasized reason and individualism
• It transformed the way people thought about reality
• The movement valued reason as a "natural light" to dispel ignorance and guide humanity towards advancement

Origins and Spread

• The Enlightenment originated in late 17th-century English political and philosophical culture
• It primarily developed in France during the 1730s
• From France, it spread throughout Europe
• French replaced Latin as the common language for cultural communication

Core Principles

• Shared belief in reason and its critical application
• Knowledge should be "empirical," combining theoretical hypotheses with experiential data.
• The approach aligns with the scientific method of the 17th-century scientific revolution
• Knowledge should serve the community by improving people's lives
• Critically evaluated established knowledge and traditions
• Challenged religious dogmas, which were seen as sources of obscurantism and intolerance
• It was largely a secular movement, with some followers embracing atheism and others favoring a rational religion

Political Reflection

• The movement opposed absolutism in European monarchies
• Believed society could be improved to be more just and happy
• Progress was possible through human reason, which could reform outdated institutions

Historical Perspective

• History was not a simple succession of civilizations or a decline from a perfect state
• It should be viewed as a difficult process of human improvement and emancipation from irrationality

The Role of Reason

• Crises were due to the inadequate use of reason
• Civilization could only prosper through rationality

Dissemination of Ideas

• The Enlightenment thinkers aimed to circulate information and educate the public
• They aimed to spread knowledge of literature, science, and technology
• Their goal help stimulate public opinion through discussion

International Debate

• Enlightenment thinkers established international debates
• Intellectuals put aside national differences to pursue shared principles
• They considered themselves "citizens of the world"

Intellectual Spaces

• Intellectuals communicated through discussions in the salons of progressive aristocrats
• They were safe from censorship
• Academies were established for focused discussions, and cafes became unconventional spaces for intellectual exchange

The Role of Freemasonry

• Freemasonry secretly spread Enlightenment ideals, especially in its early years, originating in Britain in the 17th century

Freemason Ideals

• Enlightenment ideals encompassed enlightenment values to the ceti dirigenti of rationalism, opposition to religious fanaticism, progress, and universal brotherhood

New Media

• The rise of letters, sciences, and arts led to increased demand for information, which was addressed through periodicals, such as gazettes and pamphlets -Gazettes provided regular updates on literary and scientific developments

Encyclopedia

• The most important book of Enlightenment was the "Encyclopedia," published from 1751-1772
• It included science, arts, and trades
• Directed by philosopher Denis Diderot and mathematician Jean-Baptiste d'Alembert
• It aimed to summarize the knowledge of the time and challenged traditional distinctions between high culture and practical knowledge
• Addressed various topics
• Organized alphabetically which had an subversive effect that suggested equivalence between sacred and profane topics

Economic Theories of the Enlightenment

• Mercantilism was the economic policy used by states during the 17th and 18th centuries
• It was based on the idea that state wealth was the amount of gold and silver within its borders
• It requires active trade balances
• States had to intervene directly

Physiocracy

• Physiocracy emerged in the mid-18th century
• Developed by François Quesnay
• It argues agriculture was the source of a country's wealth
• It challenged mercantilism arguing industry transformed raw materials and trade exchanged goods
• Physiocrats believed state shouldn't interfere with economic issues
• Argued for free trade

Adam Smith and Economic Liberalism

• Adam Smith advocated for minimal state intervention in the economy
• He said to ensure economic development and said the state should establish taxes, public services and security
• He wrote about his theories in "The Wealth of Nations" (1776)
• Supported changes for industrialization