The Age of Reason

1
The Age of Reason

• The Eighteenth Century Enlightenment

2
Background

• Scientific Revolution (17th Century)
• Method of Inquiry
• Trust in Human Senses and Abilities
• Observation and Experimentation
• Newtons Synthesis (1690)
• World in Motion
• Operates according to fixed laws

3
Background

• Reason vs. Received Authorities
• Politics Absolutism vs. Constitutionalism
• England Glorious Revolution (1688)
• France Divine Right Absolutism
• Louis XIV (ruled 1642-1715)
• Louis XV (ruled 1715-1774)

4
Enlightenment

• Philosophes Use Scientific Method to
• Observe human society, politics, religion
• Seek rational explanations
• Use history to understand science of society
• Discover the natural laws governing society
• Change society, politics, religion for the better

5
Basic Assumptions

• People have the power of reason
• Universe, including human society, is governed by
  unchanging natural laws
• If we discover those laws, we can alter society
  for the better

6
Key Ideas of the Philosophes

• Confidence
• Reason
• Progress
• Natural Laws

7
Philosophes

• 18th century intellectuals writers in France,
  Britain, Germanies
• Critics of the status quo
• Reformers, not Revolutionaries
• Assumed inequality was natural in human society

8
Montesquieu1689-1755

• Wealthy French nobleman
• Criticized absolutism which had deprived nobles
  of share in political power
• Spirit of the Laws uses history to study
  science of society and government describes
  what is and what ought to be
• Separation of Powers into three branches
  executive, legislative, judicial

9
Denis Diderot1713-1784

• Son a cutler, specializing in surgical
  instruments
• Wanted to be a priest sent to Jesuit school in
  Paris
• At 19 embarked on writing as a career
• Years of struggle poverty
• Imprisoned several times for impious attacks on
  church and government

10
Encyclopedia

• Diderots big break hired as Editor in Chief
• Prospectus gather existing knowledge of the arts
  and sciences into an orderly whole in a
  multi-volume work arranged alphabetically
• Title signified interrelation of sciences
• Goal share knowledge of everything

11
Encyclopedia

• Original Plan
• 10 volumes 8 of text, 2 of plates
• Estimated cost 2,000,000 livres
• Subscriptions 280 livres a set
• Diderot paid 144 livres a month
• Final Version
• 28 volumes 17 of text, 11 of plates
• Published from 1750-1772
• 4,200 subscribers by 1756

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Encyclopedia

• Articles written by all leading intellectuals
• Wide range of articles
• Philosophy, religion, politics, government
• Nature
• Human anatomy
• Crafts industries
• Illustrations graphics provided visual
  explanations to supplement text

13
Encyclopedia

• Controversial often questioned status quo
• Wildly successful Diderot became wealthy
• Quintessential Enlightenment Publication
• Broadened definition of knowledge
• Made knowledge accessible, at least to those who
  could read

14
Voltaire1694-1778

• François Marie Arouet, son of a notary
• Educated in Paris by Jesuits
• Dads Plans Law
• Young Arouets Career Goal Writer
• Pen Name Voltaire first used in 1718
• Anagram for Arouet Le Jeune
• From Veautaire, a farm inherited from a cousin

15
Voltaire1694-1778

• Early in career, wrote essays and satires
  criticizing officials and government
• 1718 Incarcerated in Bastille for an essay
  lampooning the Regent for Louis XV
• 1720s Success with plays and epic poems
• First writer to actually make money writing

16

• Long term relationship with Mme du Chatelet
  lived with her until 1749
• Spent 4 years at court of Frederick Great of
  Prussia (1749-1753)
• Bought estate at Ferney, near Swiss border
• Known as author of tragic plays epics to his
  contemporaries
• Work censored by French authorities
• 1778 Honored in Paris

17
Candide

• Written mid-1750s published 1758
• What is the point of this novel?