Upload
molly-may
View
223
Download
4
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
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.