1. The EnlightENment IES SAN JUAN BAUTISTA 4º ESO – YEAR 2017-2018
Teacher: GEMA MORATALLA

2. Skepticism about old authority, the power of reason, Natural Law.
The EnlightENment
Previous ideas:
Scientific revolution in 16th and 17th centuries (with Copernincus, Kepler, Galileo and Newton).
Skepticism about old authority, the power of reason, Natural Law.

3. Rationalism (reason as the source of knowledge).
The EnlightENment
Previous ideas:
Rebirth of philosophy in 17th century (with Descartes, Leibniz and Spinoza).
Rationalism (reason as the source of knowledge).
(With Locke and Hume)
Empiricism (knowledge comes from sensory experience).

4. He inspired the French philosophers.
The EnlightENment
Locke analyzed and praised the English revolution and the separation of powers.
He inspired the French philosophers.

5. Another essential philosopher: Kant
The EnlightENment
Another essential philosopher: Kant
Critical thinking

6. All together gave birth to Enlightenment thinkers, whose pillars are:
The EnlightENment
All together gave birth to Enlightenment thinkers, whose pillars are:
Reason = logical thought
Deism + religious tolerance + freedom of thought
Nature as a source of goodness and justice
Progress to transform society / happiness as an objective

7. Main thinkers (they were French and lived in the 18th century):
The EnlightENment
Main thinkers (they were French and lived in the 18th century):
Montesquieu
Voltaire
Rousseau
Diderot and D’Alembert
Their works mainly talked about:
Economy – Society – Politics

8. The EnlightENment
Economy
They rejected mercantilism (the economic system based on trade – for example, the triangular trade – and the accumulation of precious metals).
They believed in the importance of agriculture (nature) as the source of wealth.

9. Adam Smith monument (Edinburgh)
The EnlightENment
Economy
As supporters of freedom, they opposed state regulations. That led to economic liberalism (essential: Scotish economist Adam Smith).
Adam Smith monument (Edinburgh)

10. The EnlightENment
Society
They opposed feudal society arguing that no one should inherit privilege.
They believed in:
Equality of origin.
Social mobility.
Personal merit.

11. They firmly opposed absolutism and proposed:
The EnlightENment
Politics
They firmly opposed absolutism and proposed:
Montesquieu: separation of powers, emphasizing independence of judicial power.
Rousseau: the need for a social contract between the ruler and the individuals (expressed, for example, in a constitution); national or popular sovereignity (power comes from the people).
Voltaire: the need for a parliament that limits the power of monarchs.

12. The EnlightENment
What about women?
Unfortunately, most of these tolerant, liberal, righteous and good men forgot women.
But women spoke!

13. The EnlightENment
Mary Wollstonecraft
She supported education for women. Believed that educated women could strengthen society and be equivalent to their husband in society.
* One curious thing: her daughter was Mary Shelley, the writer of Frankenstein.

14. She supported women’s rights in theatre plays and other type of texts.
The EnlightENment
Olympe De Gouges
She supported women’s rights in theatre plays and other type of texts.
After the outbreak of French Revolution, she wrote the Declaration of Rights of Women.

15. Spread of Enlightment ideas:
The EnlightENment
Spread of Enlightment ideas:
The Encyclopèdie (edited and compiled by Diderot and D’Alembert).
Universities and scientific academies.
Salons.
Newspapers and books.
Scientific and technological progress.

16. The big contradiction: Enlightened despotism.
The EnlightENment
The big contradiction: Enlightened despotism.
Can you guess how an absolute monarch becomes an Enlightened monarch but still being absolute?

17. The big contradiction: Enlightened despotism.
The EnlightENment
The big contradiction: Enlightened despotism.
The formula consists of introducing ideas about progress without giving up the absolute authority.
How?
Rationalizing administration, reforming education, modernizing economy, developing agriculture and industry, facilitating free trade.

18. Motto: <<All for the people, nothing by the people>>
The EnlightENment
The big contradiction: Enlightened despotism.
Motto: <<All for the people, nothing by the people>>