Philosophes, Leaders and the Enlightenment Using the Scientific Method to promote Happiness Reason...
Transcript of Philosophes, Leaders and the Enlightenment Using the Scientific Method to promote Happiness Reason...
Philosophes, Leaders and the Enlightenment
Using the Scientific Method to promoteHappinessReasonLibertyProgress
Thomas Hobbes(1588-1679)• Studied elements of law and natural
politics. Wrote Leviathan.• For Hobbes God doesn’t make leaders but
society does, nonetheless an absolute leader is necessary since people are selfish and greedy
• convinced that the methods used by mathematicians and scientists hold the greatest promise for advances in human knowledge.
• “Curiosity is the lust of the Mind.”
John Locke (1632-1704)• Said people had a natural right to pursue
life, liberty and land. • Also said that if the government was
insufficient then, the governed had a right to overthrow the government.
• Believed that children were born with a “blank slate” and then their environment shapes and educates them.
• Founding Fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence with some of Locke’s ideas.
Jean Jacques-Rousseau (1712-1778)
• Social Contract- argued that men are born free but everywhere in chains. He saw existing societies as limiting peoples’ potential .”
• In “The Social Contract” argued -society should be ruled by the “General Will”. Unclear what is the general will- not necessarily majority rule- but this General Will, will unlock man’s potential
• Those who fail to abide by General Will should be exiled. (Despots have used his ideas)
• Like John Locke, Man is essentially good, and people are corrupted by the environment in which they live
Baron de Montesquieu(1689-1755)
• Frenchman he compared the British Government system to French and concluded that a government with checks and balances was far better.
• Worried that power leads to abuse of power.
• Believed there were 3 types of government: Republic a monarchy and a Despotism (rule by a dictator)
• Also spoke about tolerance.
Voltaire (1694-1778)
• Promoted religious freedom and defended civil liberties- Some call Enlightenment the Age of Reason
• Outspoken supporter of social reform in the French government. Especially in reference to toleration and superstition.
• Book, Candide, focused on Huegonot improperly persecuted because of his faith
• “Common sense is not so common”• Wrote 100s of letters to leaders and other
philosophes throughout Europe.
Denis Diderot
○ Wrote the first set of Encyclopedias○ Worked for 20 years to finish the project○ Encyclopedias included:
● Sciences, mathematics music art medicine, government, law, Geography
–Governments sought to Censor material–Catherine the Great became Devotee- invited him to St. Petersburg when he became destitute
Diderot continued
○ The first volume of the set was distributed to 1,431 people
○ Hostesses such as Madame Geoffrin sponsored the effort
○ Encyclopedia inspired the English and the Scottish to publish their own
textbook
Adam SmithEconomic TheoryWealth of Nations
The best economic system is based upon man’s inherent nature
Three laws❑ Law of Self-interestPeople work for their own good❑ Law of Competition Businesses compete
for sales- better products, cheaper prices❑ Law of supply and demand
If the supply is great and demand is low then the price of the product declines
Man is fundamentally good- government is necessary
Royal Society of London
○ Founded in the 1600’s ○ Group encouraged scientific discoveries○ Society sponsored James Cook who was
the first to reach and chart:● The east coast of Australia● New Zealand● The islands of Tahiti● Hawaii—he died there in 1779
textbook
All About Salons…• A social gathering, held by wealthy hostesses• Often held in mansions• Who’s invited???-, a philosophe, a good poet,
a witty conversationalist, and a talented musician
• Guests would enjoy famous poems, plays and music
Madame Marie Therese Geoffrin
○ Married a wealthy manufacturer○ Most influential salon hostess of her day○ Mondays were for entertaining the
talented artists of Paris○ Wednesdays were reserved for writers
and scientists dining at her expensive table
○ Known for being extremely proper and civilized
○ Was generous and cared for all gueststextbook
Musical Composers
❖Mozart❖Bach
❖Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
○ Beethoven born Bonn (located in modern day Germany) Dec. 17, 1770.(1770-1827)
○ Greatest European composer of all time. ○ His earlier works were in the same classical
style as Mozart’s, however, the music of Beethoven’s later years carried music on into the Age of Romanticism.
○ Wrote 138 operas
http://www.lucare.com/immortal/childhood.html
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
○ A child prodigy who began composing
music at the age of 5○ Known for his operas: At age 12-he wrote
his first opera.○ His great operas : The Marriage of Figaro,
Don Giovanni, and The Magic Flute – are widely performed today .
○ He died in poverty, at the age of 35 in 1791 (1756-1791).
Textbook
Johann Sebastian Bach
○ 1685-1750 ○ The baroque period, which in French, means
“odd” and is noted for its complexity and drama
○ Bach created intricate counterpoint (weaving numerous melodies together) which he learned about through the organ.
○ Had very unique, ornate style ○ Wrote over 1000 works ○ Is known as the greatest baroque composer
http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/bachjs.html
Enlightened Despots
What is an Enlightened Despot
■ Enlightened despots ->European rulers that contributed to their kingdom in both good and bad ways. ■ The term enlightened despots is an
oxymoron.
■ The most important enlightened despots were Frederick the Great of Prussia, who ruled from 1740-1786, Joseph II of Austria (1780-1792), and Catherine the Great of Russia (1762-1796).
• Like Peter, westernized Russia (she was German!)
• Financed Diderot, corresponded w/Voltaire• Failed at passing new “Enlightened Laws”-
Nobles were too strong and a peasant uprising undermined her
• Improved Educational opportunities• Encouraged investment in underdeveloped
foreign area’s • Tried to relax the censorship laws http://staff.gps.edu/mines/Age
%20of%20Absol%20-%20Enlightend%20Despots.htm cooler.irk.ru/ lt/livet_russia1.html
Catherine the Great
Fredrick II of Prussia
▪ Empowered Nobles and expanded serfdom▪ Developed more religious tolerance and
granted freedom of the press▪ Established individual protections against the
law▪ Established the first German law code and
enforced general education rules ▪ Called himself, “First Servant of the State”▪ Befriended Voltaire but later exiled him
Josef Hapsburg of Austria
■ Ruled with his mother for 15 yrs! ■ Holy Roman Empire■ Placed the State in charge of Education,
provided great Religious toleration■ Tried to free serfs.■ Died before his ideas could be fully
implemented!■ On his gravestone- per his instructions■ Here lies Joseph II, who failed in all he
undertook.
What they did wrong (DESPOTIC)
● Joseph of Austria’s reforms disrupted the stability of Habsburg Empire.
● Frederick of Prussia invaded the province of Silesia to gain land. He violated a treaty,
● Frederick argued between nations and became void when it was no longer beneficial for the state to exist.
● He initially liked Voltaire but when Voltaire no longer agreed with him ended his friendship
● Catherine the Great (Russia)● May have murdered her husband, she also did not
free the serfs, she generally supported the nobles.