The Enlightenment PDF

THE ENLIGHTENMENT BACKGROUND Renaissance Popularity of ancient Greece and Rome As opposed to modern Christian West Governments of Greece and Rome Democracy and Republic Dislike for tyranny and kingship Becomes the major influence for Enlightenment thinkers...

THE ENLIGHTENMENT BACKGROUND Renaissance Popularity of ancient Greece and Rome As opposed to modern Christian West Governments of Greece and Rome Democracy and Republic Dislike for tyranny and kingship Becomes the major influence for Enlightenment thinkers BACKGROUND English Civil War English kings wanted absolute power Considered to be tyrannical Thirty Years War Major religious war between Protestants and Catholics Fought b/w monarchs of Spain, France, Sweden, and Holy Roman Empire How to best govern society? THE ENLIGHTENMENT Social contract Agreement between rulers and ruled Clearly defined rights for the people and constraints on the government Jean-Jacques Rousseau That legit government is by consent That people agree to give some of their rights for the Common Good THE ENLIGHTENMENT Thomas Hobbes Has a pessimistic view of people Believed that people should instead be under a totalitarian system John Locke Believed people had inalienable rights Natural Rights to life, liberty, property Apply to all people regardless of class If government violates, people can rebel THE ENLIGHTENMENT Montesquieu Separation of Powers Taken from the Roman Republic Makes the idea of an executive, legislative, and judicial branch Adam Smith Promoted free-market economics That the market is reflective of the people’s interests Invisible Hand of the Market THE ENLIGHTENMENT Made up by the philosophes Anti-religious, or at least anti- Christian The Church should be subordinate to the State Caused by Protestantism And the Church was not “rational” Deism That the universe was created by a God and then left it alone after THE ENLIGHTENMENT Voltaire Vocal critic of the Church And of the French monarchy But advocated for religious tolerance Diderot Another critic of the Church Creates the Encyclopedia A compilation of Enlightenment views THE ENLIGHTENMENT Women become more prominent as philosophers Margaret Cavendish and Mary Astell Criticized Enlightenment thinkers For double standards Mary Wollstonecraft Wanted women to enter male- dominant work forces A Vindication of the Rights of Women THE ENLIGHTENMENT Paris becomes the center Known as City of Light Hosted in salons by rich women And ideas spread in coffeeshops Popular amongst the Bourgeoisie Ideas that eventually lead to the French Revolution