1. Enlightenment

2. Origins of the Enlightenment
New World View
Rationalism
Scientific Method
Progress
Why?
Question antiquity
Increased contact with wider word
Doubt & uncertainty
Devastation of War

3. The Characteristics of the Enlightenment
Rationalism
reason is the arbiter of all things.
Cosmology
a new concept of man, his existence on earth, & the place of the earth in the universe.
Religion
Deism: Clockmaker view of God
Secularism
application of the methods of science to religion & philosophy.
Atheists ::gasp::

4. The Characteristics of the Enlightenment
Scientific Method
Mathematical analysis
Experimentation
Inductive reasoning.
Utilitarianism
the greatest good for the greatest number.
Tolerance
No opinion is worth burning your neighbor for.

5. The Characteristics of the Enlightenment
Optimism & Self-Confidence
man is intrinsically good.
social progress.
Freedom
Of thought and expression.
Bring liberty to all men (battle against absolutism).
Education of the Masses

6. The Characteristics of the Enlightenment
Legal Reforms
Justice, kindness, and charity
no torture or indiscriminant incarceration.
Due process of law.
Constitutionalism
Written constitutions
listing citizens, rights.
Cosmopolitanism

7. Continuing Superstition
Belief in magic and the occult persisted
witch-hunts: 70,000–100,000 put to death, 1400–1700; 80% women
village society: magic helped cope with natural disasters and disabilities
Christian clergy: practiced high magic/miracles (Eucharist, Penance, Confession, exorcism)

8. Centers of the Enlightenment

9. Philosphes French philosophers
Intellectuals “bringing light to ignorant humans”
Paris was center
Salons: Conversation, discussion, debate
Societies & Academies
share information
Not in universities!
English: Coffee houses

10. And other cultural stuff
Reading Revolution!
And other cultural stuff
Growth literacy & book production
Elite women: art, salons, etc
Generally excluded from the smart people stuff
Queen Christina of Sweden (r. 1623–1654): brought Descartes to design regulations for a new science academy
Margaret Cavendish (1623–1673)
Maria Winkelmann—German astronomer, excluded from Berlin Academy
Book clubs, Masonic lodges, newspapers
Not for the poor people…mainly middle and upper
Classification of human “races”

11. Book Publishing Industry

12. Booksellers/Popular Publishing

13. Travel Literature

14. Freemasonry

15. Scientific & Literary Journals

16. Academies
French Academy of Sciences

17. Royal Societies

18. Encyclopedias

19. Debating Societies

20. Salons

21. Coffeehouses