Test Questions on The Enlightenment – Flashcards
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What was the Enlightenment?
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a period beginning in the 1600s in which educated Europeans changed their outlook on life by seeing reason as the key to human progress
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Who were Enlightenment thinkers inspired by?
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The example of scientists such as Galileo and Newton -Scientists used observation and logic to understand the physical world. -Their methods were rapidly overturning old beliefs.
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The Enlightenment helped to shape modern views of...
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human nature, society, and government.
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Enlightenment thinkers wanted to examine human life in light of ________.
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reason
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What did Enlightenment thinkers feel would lead to great progress in government and society?
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Rational understanding
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The Roots of the Enlightenment
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Enlightenment thinkers wanted to examine human life in the light of reason. Rational understanding, they felt, would lead to great progress in government and society. These thinkers believed they were making a major break with the past. Like all people, however, they were influenced by what had come before them. Roots of the Enlightenment: 1.) The Scientific Revolution 2.) The Renaissance and Reformation 3.) Classical and Christian Influences
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Roots of the Enlightenment: The Scientific Revolution
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In science, observation and reason were revealing laws that applied throughout the physical world. The thinkers of the Enlightenment wanted to apply this approach to human life. Philosophers did not always agree about the answers to these questions. What they all shared was a way of thinking about such questions. Like scientists, they placed their trust in reason and observation as the best sources of understanding and progress.
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Roots of the Enlightenment: The Renaissance and Reformation
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The humanists of the Renaissance questioned accepted beliefs. During the Reformation, Protestants rebelled against the Catholic Church. Enlightenment thinkers went even farther in rejecting authority and upholding the freedom of individuals to think for themselves.
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Roots of the Enlightenment: Classical and Christian Influences
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Many Enlightenment thinkers were inspired by classical culture. -Trust in reason comes from Ancient Greeks -The idea that people should have a say in their government comes from Ancient Greeks Christian ideas also colored Enlightenment thinking. -Most Enlightenment philosophers continued to believe in God -Often their approach to moral problems reflected Christian values, such as respect for others and for a moral law
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New Ideas Versus Old Beliefs
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The thinkers of the Enlightenment prized reason over authority. They questioned the basis of religion, morality, and government. Everything, they said, must be examined anew in the light of reason. This outlook led to many clashes with accepted beliefs. -Example: Christian faith was based largely on trust in the Bible as God's word. Enlightenment thinkers believed that humans were perfectly able to discover truth for themselves. Many even questioned the existence of God. -Example: Some questioned the long-held belief in the divine right of kings to rule.
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Thomas Hobbes
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Thomas Hobbes: Absolute Rule by Kings -Wrote about politics and government, tried to give a rational basis for absolute power (unlimited rule by kings) -Thoughts were influenced by events in England in the mid 1600s. King was struggling for power with Parliament (England's lawmaking body), civil war broke out, king was beheaded, England run by House of Commons...... This chaos made him question the basis of social order -Wrote Leviathan, thought government was to protect people from their own selfishness because they are greedy and cruel, and that a ruler should have absolute authority
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John Locke
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John Locke: Natural Rights - Thought true basis of gov't was a social contract- agreement among free people - Two Treatises of Government- theory of government that justified Parliament's actions - Denied divine rights of kings to rule, believed it was social contract- -believed all people were born with certaIn rights Life, liberty, property - believed if gov't failed to respect people's rights, could be overthrown
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Baron de Montesquieu
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Baron de Montesquieu: Separation of Powers - Believed the best way to protect political liberty was to divide power in gov't into three branches : ? • Legislative branch: makes laws • Executive branch: enforces laws • Judicial branch: interprets laws Thought branches should be separate but equal, that way no one branch would become too powerful each branch "checks" or Limits the other branch.
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Voltaire
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Voltaire: Religious Tolerance and Free Speech -Warred against superstition, error, and oppression. -Candide- humorous book that poked fun at the idea that the world made by God must necessarily be "the best of all possible worlds" Voltaire thought this belief would prevent people from fighting evil in the world -Believed in government by law, not by ruler -Freedom of thought and expression extremely important -Religious tolerance -Meant allowing people to profess religion in their own ways, believed there was a core of truth in all religions- "natural religion" -Criticized intolerance and oppression wherever he saw it -"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
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Cesare Beccaria
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Cesare Beccaria: Rights of the Accused - Pioneer in the field of criminology - Upset by harsh practices that were common (torture to get confessions, corrupt judges, secret unfair trials, brutal punishments) - Argued that laws exist to preserve security and order- punishment did not have to be brutal, just had to outweigh the potential benefits of the crime - Fair and speedy trial, never torture, punishment should fit the crime - Encouraged scientific study of crime.
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Jean Jacques Rousseau
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Jean Jacques Rousseau: Champion of Freedom -strongly disagreed with other Enlightenment thinkers on many matters -argued that civilization corrupted people's natural goodness people had lived as free and equal individuals before civilization, in primitive "state of nature" as people became civilized, forced to obey unjust laws, freedom & equality destroyed -direct democracy only good gov't -his ideas inspired many of the leaders of the French Revolution who overthrew the monarchy in 1789
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Madame Geoffrin
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- Gave support to Encyclopedists, a group of men who put together the first encyclopedia - Hosted important, talented artists, writers, and philosophers at her salon for discussion.
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Abigail Adams
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- Married to John Adams, a leader of the American Revolution - Supported the movement of independence from England, reminded John not to forget the women - Spoke out for a woman's right to education
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Olympe De Gouges
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- She published the Declaration of the rights of Woman and the Female Citizen - Argued for women's equality with men in every aspect of public and private life
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Mary Wollstonecraft
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-was an early leader in the struggle to gain equal rights for women -argued that women deserved the same rights and opportunities as men -believed that education was the key to gaining equality and freedom, called for reforms to give women the same education as men -her ideas about equality for women inspired early leaders of the women's rights movement in the U.S.
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Adam Smith
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Adam Smith: Laissez Faire -Laissez Faire = An economic theory from the 18th century that is strongly opposed to any government intervention in business affairs -People who support a laissez faire system are against minimum wages, duties, and any other trade restrictions. -The policy of laissez-faire received strong support in classical economics as it developed in Great Britain under the influence of economist and philosopher Adam Smith.
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reason
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the ability to think logically about something
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salon
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in France, an informal meeting of philosophers during the Enlightenment
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philosopher
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a scholar or thinker
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government
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the people or groups that rule a particular region
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individual rights
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the privileges of the people in a society
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constitutional monarchy
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a form of government in which the monarch's power is limited by a basic set of laws, or constitution
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social contract
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an agreement in which people give up certain powers in return for the benefits of government
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natural rights
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rights that belong to people "by nature," that is, simply because they are human beings
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separation of powers
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the division of powers among separate branches of government
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despotism
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rule by a despot, or tyrant
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pen name
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a name used in place of a writer's real name
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oppression
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cruel or unjust treatment
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tolerance
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the acceptance of different beliefs and customs
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criminology
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the scientific study of crime and punishment
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capital punishment
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punishment by death; also called the death penalty
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State of Nature
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a wild primitive state untouched by civilization
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Constitution
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a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed
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oppression
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prolonged cruel or unjust treatment or control
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checks and balances
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With checks and balances, each of the three branches of government can limit the powers of the others. This way, no one branch becomes too powerful. Each branch "checks" the power of the other branches to make sure that the power is balanced between them.
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Absolute Monarchy
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a monarchy in which the ruler's power is unlimited
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bill of rights
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a list of basic human rights that a government must protect
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The Paris Salons
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The Paris Salons -The buzz of enlightenment ideas was most intense in the mansions of several wealthy women of Paris. -salon = a social gathering of intellectuals and artists, like those held in the homes of wealthy women in Paris and other European cities during the enlightenment. -Most influential of the salon hostesses in Voltaire's time was Madame Geoffrin
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The Impact of the Enlightenment on Government: Enlightened Rule by Monarchs
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-several European monarchs tried to apply Enlightenment ideas during the 1700s, became known as "enlightened monarchs" -Enlightened monarchs founded universities and scientific societies, introduced reforms such as greater religious tolerance and an end to torture and punishment
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The Impact of the Enlightenment on Government: The American and French Revolutions
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American Revolution -English colonists in America shared with John Locke the traditions of the Magna Carta and the English Bill of Rights -The Declaration of Independence echoed Locke's ideas on natural rights and the purpose of government U.S. Constitution -America's basic law includes Montesquieu's idea of separation of powers -The Bill of Rights protects the freedom of religion and speech championed by Voltaire, also supports some of the rights promoted by Beccaria such as the right to a speedy trial French Revolution -In 1789, revolution broke out in France. The National Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. This document proclaimed liberty and equality, upheld the rights to own property and to resist oppression, and guaranteed freedom of speech and religion All of these ideas grew out of the Enlightenment
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Diderot's Encyclopedia
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Diderot's Encyclopedia -Madame Geoffrin also helped to finance the project of a leading philosophe named Denis Diderot -Diderot imagined a large set of books to which all the leading scholars of Europe would contribute articles and essays: The Encyclopedia -Brought together all the most current and enlightened thinking about science, technology, art, government, and more. -The enlightenment views expressed in the articles soon angered both the french gov't and the Catholic Church
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Classical Music
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Classical Music Three composers in Vienna, Austria, rank among the greatest figures of the classical period in music. They were 1.) Franz Joseph Haydn- particularly important in developing new musical forms, such as the sonata and symphony 2.) Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart- his great operas set a new standard for elegance and originality, wrote more than 600 musical works 3.) Ludwig van Beethoven- showed enormous range in his work
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Popularity of the Novel
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Popularity of the Novel -Writers in the 18th century also developed new styles and forms of literature -English novelists such as Samuel Richardson and Henry Fielding developed many of the features of the modern novel
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Fredrick the Great
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Fredrick the Great -Fredrick II, the king of Prussia from 1740 to 1786, once wrote to Voltaire -Perhaps his most important contribution was his attitude toward king
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Joseph II
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Joseph II -most radical royal reformer -introduced legal refrains and freedom of the press -supported freedom of worship -in his most radical reform, abolished serfdom and ordered that peasants be paid for their labor with cash
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Catherine the Great
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Catherine the Great -The ruler most admired by the philosophes -in 1767, formed a commission to review Russia's laws -eventually put in place limited reforms, but did little to improve the life of the Russian peasants Catherine Expands Russia -Like Peter the Great had fought for years to win a port on the Baltic Sea, sought access to the Black Sea -Expanded her empire westward into Poland -By the end of her remarkably reign, had vastly enlarged the Russian empire
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Baroque
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baroque = relating to a grand, ornate style that characterized European painting, music, and architecture in the 1600s and early 1700s
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Neoclassical
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neoclassical = relating to a simple, elegant style (based on the ideas and themes from Ancient Greece and Rome) that characterized the arts in Europe during the late 1700s
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Enlightened Despot
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enlightened despot = one of the 18th-century European monarchs who were inspired by Enlightenment ideas to rule justly and respect the rights of their subjects
