18th-C.-Enlightenment - background
Scientific Revolution provides background for a more analytical approach to human behavior
17th-C. - John Locke: tabula rasa is sig.-re: humanity as a blank state
France & England: contrasting settings for philosophical development
18th C. - expansion of print culture is critical, reflected class dynamic of Enlightenment
18th C. - the philosophes
philosophers interested in religion, individuals, politics, economics, education
populist or elite?
France: Voltaire, Rousseau, Diderot-Great Britain: Smith, Hume, Wollstonecraft, Montesquieu, Trenchard & Gordon
social reform is a common goal-challenge the power of traditional institutions
influence expands across western Europe & British North America
18th C. - Enlightenment ideas
Religion:
application of scientific ideas to religious theory
Deism: spirituality reflected in nature: God as creator, natural world is rational
Voltaire & religious toleration
goal: a social, humane "transformation" of religion
Is this bigotry of another form? To what extent does this facilitate anti-semitism?
18th C- Enlightenment -
Voltaire: human nature depends on social experiences & most are inherently good:
Voltaire: "Man is not born wicked; he becomes so, as he becomes sick."
Beccaria: criminal justice as a deterrent against future crime
Rousseau: major significance:
individual behavior subordinate to collective will of society
education should meet the needs of the individual child
is this an anti-commercial critique?
18th C. Enlightenment:
political & economic ideas, p.1
Republican government, popular sovereignty are new & prominent ideas
Locke: social compact is fundamental criticism of absolute monarchy
Rousseau: political goals and means should be directed towards the "general will" -
pursuance of "general will" leads to freedom, morality, virtue
18th C. Enlightenment:
political & economic ideas, p.2
Sig. Idea: power corrupts!
Solutions?
Montesquieu: separation & independence of 3 branches of government
Montesquieu: also believed in aristocracy & monarchy
Rousseau: democracy-collective action will override individual ambition
Adam Smith: classical economics - the "invisible hand" - anti-mercantilist
Women & 18th C. Enlightenment
Philosophes include a few prominent women who support movement, ex. Madame Pompadour
wealthy Parisian women purchase & distribute pamphlets
feminism is not part of the movement: philosophes express support for a traditional role for women in society
Rousseau: glorifies a domestic ideal for women
Wollstonecraft: prominent rebuttal of Rousseau, argues for equality of sexes
18th C - Enlightenment: discussion questions
How are these ideas a bridge between monarchist Europe & modern Europe of the 19th & 20th centuries?
How is the individual empowered, according to the philosophes?
How do the philosophes express both faith and disappointment in human nature? Are these ideas justified?
Who of the philosophes is most relevant for the modern world? Why?