the enlightenment Flashcards
reformation and scientific revolution
catholic church had a monopoly on the truth until the reformation. the reformation led to the scientific revolution.
Birth of social sciences (law, history, government)
used scientific method to see what else people were wrong about. (questioning laws, forms of government, etc)
travel narratives
reading travel narratives exposed Europeans to a larger world and other cultures
John Lock and “Tabula Rasa” (blank slate)
nothing predetermines who we are. if John Locke is correct then peoples lives can be improved. Life isn’t preprogrammed. This concept was different (peasants, kings)
absolutists and their wars
people question who gives them the power. the people fight and die and pay taxes, not the absolutist kings, people realize the wars are not good for them.
The Philosophes
People from aristocratic background that begin to question everything. They become drawn to social sciences. They are centered in France. They are concerned for the less fortunate. They believe people at the stop should try to improve peoples lives. they aren’t calling for a revolution.
Salons
social gatherings where they mingle and question old ways and talk about new ideas. These meetings were fun rowdy people had sex and partied. free thinking.
Diderot and the Encyclopedia
most famous for representing the thought of the Enlightenment. According to Denis Diderot in the article “Encyclopédie”, the Encyclopédie’s aim was “to change the way people think” and for people (bourgeoisie) to be able to inform themselves and to know things.
Montesquieu
He argued that power corrupts people. A better form of government would be one where no person or group would have enough power to abuse it. He thought the power should be dispersed to different branches. The power would still be in the government but it was spread out. Similar to England with the monarch.
Voltaire
Superstar, incredibly charming, and scandalous .his advocacy of freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state. French government threw him in political prison. banished to England which was ruled by George 2nd. Queen Anne monarch- she died and her closest relative (george 1st) took over. george 1st and 2nd didn’t care much about ruling and let parliament and the prime minister rule which voltaire approved of
Chatalet
big fan of voltaire and french philosopher. she took voltaire in but he said england was superior so he was kicked out again.
Voltaire pt 2
He traveled to Prussia. he believed all the world wars were because of religion. he thought the government should stay out of religion. he was a deist
Deism
religion of the enlightenment. something divine created the world and left it alone. whatever happens to us is not planned by a divine will but because of our own actions.
Beccaria
crimes and punishments. crime is the product of poverty and not nature. if you want to deal with crime deal with poverty. poverty is what causes crime. prisons should be for reform and not just punishment. the legal system should make crime less desirable instead of just acting in vengeance. torture should not be used and there should be different punishments based the severity of the crime. everyone should be equal before the law.
Adam Smith
wealth of nations - about economics. It was about whats better for the consumer. there should be competition between goods. he is promoting capitalism. supply and demand will regulate prices and the government should not be involved.
