THE PHILOSOPHES OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT

Voltaire, Montesquieu, Rousseau, Diderot

VOLTAIRE (1694-1778)Famous Works Philosophical Dictionary 1764:

This encyclopedic dictionary was a life long project for Voltaire. It represents a culmination of his views on Christianity, God, and morality among other subjects

Fanaticism -or- Mahomed the Prophet:A five act tragedy where Voltaire expresses his views on Islam, portraying the religion as another example of religious fanaticism. Voltaire himself described the play as “written in opposition to the founder or a false and barbarous sect.”

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VOLTAIRE, CONT.

Born on November 21st 1694 to Francois Arouet and Marie

Marguerite.

Voltaire family belonged to the upper-middle class

He developed a close relationship to his godfather, the

Abbé de Châteauneuf, a freethinker and epicurean.

Voltaire studied the Jesuits College Louis-le-Grand in Paris.

Arouet, his father sent him off to Caen, France.

Voltaire in 1713 returned to Paris and was contracted as a

lawyer.

VOLTAIRE (CONT.)

Friends and Enemies in High Places Voltaire was respected by many other

philosophes of the time, including Rousseau, Diderot, and Countess Emile de Chatelat whom he later took as a lover. He was also favored by enlightened absolutists like Catherine the Great.

However, his political and scientific writings soured his relationships with Louis XVI of France and later, Frederick the Great.

VOLTAIRE (CONT.)

Core beliefs Religious toleration Contributions to freedom of speech and press Opposed to militarism and slavery Deism Against

Voltaire is remembered as a philosophe who courageously fought for civil rights in France like the freedom of speech, free trial, and religion. He was known fro denouncing the injustices of the Ancien Regime like the imbalance of power and taxes. His most important project that he worked on was the defending of empirical science.

MONTESQUIEU (1689-1755) Charles-Louis de Secondat Baron de

Montesquieu was born on January 18, 1689 to a wealthy, noble family.

As a child, he was educated at the Oratorian Collége de Juilly. He received a degree in law from the University of Bordeaux in 1708.

He pursued a career in law in Paris until the death of his father in 1713.

He married Jeanne de Lartique in 1715, and over the course of their marriage, they had two daughters and a son.

In 1716, his uncle died, and he received the title of Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu, as well as a position in the Parlement of Bordeaux.

He became famous with his writing of the Persian Letters, though he published them anonymously.

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His writings inspired Royals and commoners alike.

MONTESQUIEU CONTINUED

Friends/Enemies He admired John Locke and Isaac Newton in

his teachings. Pope Benedict XVI respected him Many bishops did not like him or his beliefs

Most Famous Works The Persian Letters (1721)

Letters from Usbek and Rica The Spirit of Laws (1748)

Explains social institutions and human laws

MONTESQUIEU CONTINUED

Core Beliefs All things are made up of rules or laws that never change A government that was elected by the people is the best

kind of governmentLasting Impact & Influence Division of power in the government

Executive = KingLegislative = Parliament

Judicial = The Courts British constitution – wisest model for regulating power

of the government “No single set of political laws could apply to all peoples

at all times and in all places” He died in 1755 from a fever.

ROUSSEAU Impacts/Influence: Rousseau’s idea

of a “social contract” is studied in almost all modern government classes.

The theory supports the idea that people make agreements with each other and with their government for the sake of forming safe societies will relative freedom

Rousseau also promoted the idea of democracy, in which all citizens vote on every issue.

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ROUSSEAU: BACKGROUND STORY Born to Isaac Rousseau and Suzanna Bernard in

Geneva 1712 Raise solely by his father until he had to flee from

Gevena Worked as an engraver under a “tyrannical” master Moved to Paris to become a musician and composer Married Therese Levasseur with who he had 5

children Because of his growing popularity in composition he

gave up his job as a composer Wrote Discourse on the Arts and Science in response

to The Academy of Dijon’s question which inspired his career in philosophy

ROUSSEAU: CORE BELIEFS

In the State of Nature everyone is Free Inequality only exists when humans are put

into a society Men and Women should live in two separate

“spheres” Females are less equal than males and should accept their position

Individual is subservient to society

ROUSSEAU: WRITINGS AND THEIR MESSAGES

Discourse on the Arts and Sciences Progression of arts and sciences has corrupted

virtue and morality Discourse on the Origin of Inequality

Human beings are basically good by nature, but complex historical events have resulted in present-day corrupt society.

Much of the evil in the world is caused by uneven distribution of property

The Social Contract People give up their rights

DIDEROT Background info Diderot was born in Langres

Champagne on October 5 1713 He was disowned by his father

when he refused to enter one of the “learned” professions

Though his work was broad and rigorous it never achieved commercial success as a result he was forced to sell the contents of his library in order to pay for his daughters dowry. But Catherine the Great bought all of it so if mostly turned out ok in the end

Diderot died in in Paris on July 31 1784 of pulmonary thrombosis.

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DIDEROT: FRIENDS AND ENEMIES IN HIGH PLACES

Upon first moving to France, Diderot befriended Jean Jacques Rousseau

A famous mathematician, Jean D’ Alembert. agreed to edit Diderot’s encyclopedia

Voltaire offered to publish Diderot’s encyclopedia outside of France due to Parlement banning it

Empress Catherine the Great commissioned him after he lost a majority of his wealth

Several other famous philosophers collaborated with him on his encyclopedia

The Parlement banned his encyclopedia due to its radical and secular ideas

DIDEROT CONTINUED

Core Beliefs and Writings Edited Encyclopedia of arts and sciences

along with Jean-le-Round d’Alembert Embodies the ideals of Enlightenment Diderot originally helped edited the Cyclopedia

by Ephraim Chambers Inspired him to develop the Encyclopedia

He gathered leading philosophes together

Enlightenment= Intellectual Movement Challenge authority of church

“all knowledge could be acquired through scientific experimentation and the exercise of reason.”

DIDEROT CONTINUED

Impact/Influence Plant the seed for revolutionary thoughts Present information to all people and invite them

to think, become knowledgeable, and ask questions

Informed people that they can change things that they do not agree with by supporting social and political reform

Pioneer a new way to think emphasizing reason Inspire many of his intellectual peers/admirers to

publish their thoughts Ultimately inspired the French Revolution and the

American Revolution