Absolutism & Enlightenment

Scientific Revolution Scientific Revolution convinced many European thinkers about the power of reason countless discoveries about physical world Copernicus (1473-1543):advanced heliocentric theory Galilei (1564-1642): improved telescope Newton (1643-1727): gravity

The Age of Reason BIG Q from Scientific Rev---Could reason be used to study human nature and society as well? 1600s, a new generation of philosophers began to view reason as the best way to understand truth

The Enlightenment This exciting time of optimism and possibility is now called the Enlightenment (Age of Reason) Traditional ways (Absolutism) no longer work! Intellectual movement that argued reason could be used to understand humanity, solve problems Ideas inspired educated people throughout Europe and beyond people gathered in public to debate writers published their ideas Enlightenment reached its peak in the 1700s

New Views on Government Looking for ways to improve human condition examined the organization of government

Thomas Hobbes Wrote about his views on government in his 1651 book, Leviathan Experience of violence and upheaval of the English civil war persuaded him that people were selfish and greedy People would lead lives that were “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

Thomas Hobbes People need governments to impose order, as they are naturally EVIL! Give up some freedoms to a strong leader in exchange for peace, safety, and order that government could provide Absolute monarchy was best centralized power could be used to impose law and order

John Locke English philosopher Believed people were naturally happy, tolerant, and reasonable All people born equal with natural rights life, liberty, & property*** Purpose of government is to protect people’s natural right

John Locke Monarchs are not chosen by God People consented to the government, whose power was limited by laws Democracy is best government Two Treatises of Government

John Locke People have the right to overthrow the government if it fails to protect natural rights Became a foundation for modern democracy

Importance of fairness of law “Those who are united into one body, and have a common established law and judicature [court system] to appeal to, with authority to decide controversies between them, and punish offenders, are in civil society one with another …” —John Locke, Two Treatises on Government, 1690

Philosophes French philosophers who believed that the use of reason could lead to reforms of government, law & society Rousseau Montesquieu Voltaire Diderot

Jean-Jacques Rousseau French philosopher People were born good, but society corrupts The Social Contract “Man is born free but everywhere is in chains.” Government should work for the benefit of the common good, not for the wealthy few

Jean-Jacques Rousseau SOCIAL CONTRACT Individuals should give up some of their freedoms for the benefit of the community as a whole---isn’t that how the U.S. works? Despised inequality in society All people were equal and should be recognized as so in society Direct democracy is the ideal form of government

Baron de Montesquieu French thinker Separation of powers prevents any individual or group from abusing its power

Baron de Montesquieu The Spirit of the Laws admiration of Britain’s government because powers were divided into branches Parliament (legislative) made laws King and advisers (executive) carried out laws Court system (judicial) interpreted laws

Baron de Montesquieu Had actually misunderstood the structures of the British government→ led him to a rational conclusion: separation of powers allowed each branch to serve as a check against the power of the others checks and balances

Voltaire One of the most outspoken French philosophers Attacked injustice, inequality & superstition, mainly targeting the Church Sharp wit created enemies imprisoned twice later exiled to England for two years Continued the struggle for justice, religious toleration, and liberty throughout his life “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”

Diderot and the Encyclopedia French philosopher Expansion of human knowledge convinced him to compile it all into a single work 28 volumes explained new ideas about art, science, government & religion Promotion of knowledge 27 years, publishing last volume in 1772

Diderot and the Encyclopedia Attacked by French leaders because it criticized the church, government, and legal system Government tried to stop publication in 1759, and Diderot completed the remaining volumes in secret Immediate success helped spread Enlightenment ideas across Europe and to North America

Mary Wollstonecraft Though many thinkers questioned established beliefs, they usually held traditional views about women proper roles were as wives and mothers should only receive enough education to prepare them for those roles Wollstonecraft rejected this demanded equal rights for women, especially in education A Vindication of the Rights of Woman if men and women had equal education, they would be equal in society

Adam Smith Scottish economist The Wealth of Nations 1776 Argued that business activities should take place in a free market Strong believer in laissez-faire economics system that worked without government regulation “leave alone”

New Views on Society & the spread of the Enlightenment

Ideas Spread, but face resistance Most government & church authorities felt they had sacred duty to defend the “old order” God set it up in the 1st place War of Censorship restricting access to ideas and information Ban, burn books Voltaire & others disguised their works as fiction to avoid censorship

Enlightenment Ideas Spread What is that---------> Coffee Shop...Modern Day Salons! Informal social gatherings at which writers, artists, philosophes & others exchanged ideas SPREAD OF IDEAS

Enlightenment & Music Elegant style emerged Classical Music Ballets & Operas Johann Sebastian Bach German Lutheran, composed religious pieces for organs, choirs, violoins & harpsicords Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Child prodigy, produced over 600 pieces of music, died in poverty at age 35 Bach-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6_0xOBeLNw (#4, 3:23) Mozart-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxeLnNLWoQ0 (#8, 2:27) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhqORHxup4U (8:05)

Enlightenment Ideas Spread Quickly spread throughout Europe to Prussia, Russia, Austria, etc. Many philosophers appealed directly to European monarchs for change a few developed a system of government in which they ruled according to Enlightenment ideas enlightened despots (refer to definition)

Frederick II, King of Prussia (1740-1786) Believed it was his duty to rule with absolute power in order to build Prussia’s strength also strongly influenced by the ideas of Voltaire Tried to establish elementary education, abolished torture, supported most religious tolerance, reduced censorship tried to limit number of Jews that could live in Prussia Not just to achieve justice, but also to build strength and make his own rule more powerful

Catherine II, Russia Dreamed of establishing order and justice while supporting education and culture Actually corresponded with Voltaire and Diderot Drafted Russian constitution and code of laws, but were considered too liberal and never put into practice Intended to free the serfs (would lose support of wealthy landowners) No intentions of giving up power and became a tyrant Actually imposed serfdom on more Russians than ever before

Joseph II, Austria Became emperor in 1780, embarked on ambitious reform program Eliminated torture and death penalty Provided free food and medicine for poor citizens Catholic, but granted religious tolerance to Protestants and Jews Most significant: abolished serfdom Resisted by the nobility and the church forced Joseph to revoke some reforms shortly before his death in 1790

Later Influence Would later spur many generations to enact reforms Instead of accepting poverty, ignorance and inequality as part of the human condition, people debated new ways of making society more just Inspired reforms and revolutions...