Light and Darkness in the 18th Century

1
Light and Darkness in the 18th Century

• World Literature 2
• Fall 2005

2
The Enlightenment

• Part of larger period--Age of Reason
• Rationalism in science, philosophy, art
• Move away from superstition, received tradition
• Systematic thinking
• Experimental method
• Attempt to use reason to prove existence of God

3
Enlightenment 2

• Newton Principia Mathematica
• Study of natural worldmore specifically, study
  of Gods creation
• Piety and understanding
• belief in objective truth independent of the
  observer (Wikipedia)
• Linnaeustaxonomy (not taxidermy)

4
Law and Society

• Focus on importance of individual
• natural rightsamong them, liberty
• Declaration of Independenceinalienable rights
• Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizens
• Law gives kings power, not vice versa
• Rousseausocial contract
• Universe needs imposed, rational order

5
But

• 18th Century is also a century of hard times,
  tough lives, and violent events
• War (2 revolutions, 7 years war, Frontier
  conflicts, Colonial incursions)
• Disease (cholera, smallpox but see Edward
  Jenner, TB
• Medicine

6
Slavery

• Existed since earliest times
• Captivity and social/sertile status
• Difference of some kind
• Ancient Greece (ex Sparta) and Rome
• Exists today (Niger, Sudan, elsewhere)

7
18th century

• England, North American colonies, France, South
  America (part. Brazil)
• triangle trade or triangle route
• Middle Passage
• Between 1500-180012 to 20 million
• (from Africa by Europeans)

8
Wikipedia on Enlightenment

• The Age of Enlightenment. Wikipedia.