By: Mr. MarstonBy: Mr. MarstonDominion Christian High School, Dominion Christian High School,

Marietta, GAMarietta, GA

World History 2009World History 2009

The Age of The Age of Reason & Reason &

EnlightenmEnlightenmentent

The Age of The Age of Reason & Reason &

EnlightenmEnlightenmentent

The “Great Debate”

Reason& Logic

(Age of Reason)

Reason& Logic

(Age of Reason)

Traditionsand

Superstitions(Middle Ages)

Traditionsand

Superstitions(Middle Ages)

rationalismrationalism empiricismempiricism tolerancetolerance skepticismskepticism DeismDeism

nostalgia for the nostalgia for the

past (ancient past (ancient philosophers)philosophers)

organized organized religionsreligions

irrationalismirrationalism emotionalisemotionalismm

An Overview of the 18c

► Political History Political History >>> >>> Reform

► Intellectual History Intellectual History Newtonian Physics Reason

► Cultural History Cultural History Individualism

► Social History Social History Increased Literacy “Age of Aristocracy”

► Economic History Economic History > > Mercantilism to Capitalism

18c Politics► BRITAIN – – Constitutional Constitutional MonarchyMonarchy

► FRANCE Royal AbsolutismRoyal Absolutism (cultural and religious (cultural and religious unity)unity)

► PRUSSIA, HABSBURG EMPIRE, RUSSIA “Enlightened “Enlightened Despotism”Despotism”

The Origins of Enlightenment?

► SCIENTIFICSCIENTIFIC:: Newton’s system was synonymousNewton’s system was synonymous

with the empirical (observation)and the with the empirical (observation)and the

practicalpractical..

Scientific laws could be expressed as Scientific laws could be expressed as

universal mathematical formulasuniversal mathematical formulas..

Science allowed alternatives to beScience allowed alternatives to beimagined in everything from politicsimagined in everything from politicsto religion.to religion.

William Blake’s Newton, 1795

The Royal Academy of Sciences, Paris

Zoology & Biology

A dissection at the Royal A dissection at the Royal Academy, London.Academy, London.

Chemistry Labs & Botany Gardens

Natural History Collections

► Cocoa plant Cocoa plant drawing.drawing.

► Sir Hans Sir Hans SloaneSloane(1660-1753).(1660-1753).

► Collected from Collected from Jamaica.Jamaica.

Natural History Collections

James Petiver’s BeetlesJames Petiver’s Beetles(London apothecary)(London apothecary)

Private Collections

The Origins of Modern The Origins of Modern Museums.Museums.

Women & Science

The German The German astronomer astronomer Hevelius & Hevelius &

his wife his wife examine examine

the the heavens.heavens.

The Origins of Enlightenment?► RELIGIOUSRELIGIOUS::

physico-theologyphysico-theology –– an attempt an attempt (inspired by science) to explain (inspired by science) to explain God’s Providence by reference to God’s Providence by reference to his his work in naturework in nature & not primarily & not primarily through his biblical Word.through his biblical Word.

support of a “rational” religion, freesupport of a “rational” religion, freefrom mysteries, miracles, andfrom mysteries, miracles, andsuperstitions.superstitions.

The Origins of Enlightenment?► RELIGIOUSRELIGIOUS::

DeismDeismV The belief in the existence of a God or The belief in the existence of a God or

supreme being but asupreme being but adenial of revealed religion, basingdenial of revealed religion, basingone’s belief on theone’s belief on the lightlight of natureof nature

and reasonand reason..

Deists saw no point in any particularDeists saw no point in any particularreligion; they recognized only a religion; they recognized only a distantdistantGodGod, uninvolved in the daily life of man., uninvolved in the daily life of man.

The Origins of Enlightenment?► RELIGIOUSRELIGIOUS::

Gradually, highly educated Protestants & Gradually, highly educated Protestants & Catholics thought more about Catholics thought more about God’s work as God’s work as revealed through sciencerevealed through science, rather than through , rather than through the Scriptures.the Scriptures.

PantheismPantheism

V The belief that God andThe belief that God and

nature are one and the samenature are one and the same..

The Characteristics of the Enlightenment

1.1. Rationalism Rationalism reason is the arbiter of all reason is the arbiter of all things. things.

2.2. Cosmology Cosmology a new concept of man, his a new concept of man, his existence on earth, & the existence on earth, & the place of the earth in the place of the earth in the universe. universe.

3.3. Secularism Secularism application of the methods of application of the methods of science to religion & science to religion & philosophy. philosophy.

The Characteristics of the Enlightenment

4.4. Scientific MethodScientific Method

Mathematical analysis (gathering Mathematical analysis (gathering observations, seek to find a pattern in the observations, seek to find a pattern in the observations, choosing the most observations, choosing the most appropriate conclusion to explain the appropriate conclusion to explain the observations)observations)

ExperimentationExperimentation

Inductive reasoning.Inductive reasoning.

5.5. Utilitarianism Utilitarianism the greatest good for the greatest good for the greatest number. the greatest number.

6.6. Tolerance Tolerance No opinion is worth No opinion is worth burning your neighbor for. burning your neighbor for.

Problems with Science

• Cannot explain why things occur

• Cannot make moral judgments

• Limited by man’s abilities

• Scientific facts are often proved incorrect.

The Characteristics of the Enlightenment

7.7. Optimism & Self-ConfidenceOptimism & Self-Confidence

The belief that man is intrinsically good.The belief that man is intrinsically good.

The belief in social progress.The belief in social progress.

8.8. FreedomFreedom

Of thought and expression.Of thought and expression.

Bring liberty to all men (modern battle against Bring liberty to all men (modern battle against absolutism).absolutism).

9.9. Education of the MassesEducation of the Masses

The Characteristics of the Enlightenment

10.10. Legal ReformsLegal Reforms

Justice, kindness, and charity Justice, kindness, and charity no torture or no torture or indiscriminant incarceration.indiscriminant incarceration.

Due process of law. Due process of law.

11.11. ConstitutionalismConstitutionalism

Written constitutions Written constitutions listing citizens, rights. listing citizens, rights.

12.12. Cosmopolitanism.Cosmopolitanism.

Centers of the Enlightenment

Scientific Revolution: From Renaissance to the 18th century

• Successes in science

• Increased man’s knowledge of the universe

• 1. heliocentric view of the universe

• 2. matter was made up of atoms and corpuscles/

• 3. all bodies are heavy and they move according to the same laws of motion

• 4. universe is a set of mathematical principles

Astronomy

• Astronomers relied on the theories of Ptolemy (ancient Greek geographer)

• Geocentric view of the universe: entire universe revolved around the earth

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543)

• Polish Astronomer

• Used instruments (astrolabe) to study the heavens and measure the position of stars and planets

• Concluded “heliocentric” (Sun-centered theory) of the universe

• Planets farthest from the sun took longer to orbit the sun than the earth did

• “On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres.” (1543)

Copernicus

• Geocentric vs. Heliocentric View

• Copernicus Youtube

Johannes Kepler (1571-1630)

• German Lutheran

• Disavowed Copernican model of circular orbits

• Orbits were elliptical (oval shaped)

Tycho Brahe (1546-1601)

• Danish Astronomer

• His planetary observations led to Kepler’s laws of planetary motion

Geo-Heliocentric (sun and moon revolve around earth) while other planets revolve around sun

Brahe

Kepler

• Laws of Planetary Motion

Kepler

Kepler

• Kepler's law of motion

• Kepler Youtube

Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)

• Italian astronomer

• Improved upon the telescope

• Confirmed Kepler’s heliocentric theory and that the planets moved in elliptical orbits

• Tried for heresy by the Catholic Church and forced to recant his findings “Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems” (1632)

• Known as the Father of Modern Science and Modern Observational Astronomy

Galileo