The Age of Enlightenment

Mer som dette

Crispin; The Cross of Lead

Ved Tim Chase

Atlantic Slave Trade

Ved Kayla Westerfield

The British Isles

Ved Thomas Mellum-Halvorsen Mellum-Halvorsen

The directors of a property company are looking at whether they shouldconstruct a new office building. The economy is doing well, and the amount ofvacant office space is reducing sharply. As part of their decision they decide to use the 6 Thinking Hats te

Ved Serik Ayazhan

Alissar Arnaout

Trends of the Enlightenment

"Natural Religion"

Deism

"My own mind is my own church" - Paine

God created universe & let it run

God didn't participate directly in human affairs

Irrational to imagine a world without God

Rejection of traditional religion

Simplification of religious ritual

Le Cafe

Less private

Intellectuals could discuss ideas over coffee

Didn't need invitation (anyone can go)

Salons "Living room"

Class & religion was less important

Men & women were almost equal

Gave sheltered outlet to say views

Intellectuals gathered to present and exchange ideas

Literacy & Knowledge

Books & book production

Writers & intellectuals presented & exchanged ideas

The Encyclopedia (1751)

Summarized advances in biology, chemistry, medicine & engineering

Subjects: Government, social system & religion

Editors & contributors: Jean d'Alembert, Diderot, Montesqueiu, Voltaire, Rousseau, etc.

- Movable type → many copies - Newspapers → Gazettes

Government advisors → literate population was an advantage

Enlightenment Thinkers / Philosophes

Adam Smith

Economic

- proponent of free trade - against mercantile system - greater & more competitive trade - "Invisible hand of competition" - Capitalist economy

Montesquieu

- Laws & customs → products of society's condition - pondered effects of climate, social & sexual customs

- Nature of things → consequence of politics - monarchy was the best government

Rousseau

- Didn't accept Enlightenment - looked down on luxury → French life was artificial - "State of Nature" - innocence of children & corruption of society

Political authority → "general will" & "common good"

Voltaire

- defended tolerance - attacked religious piety - criticized severity of punishment

- èrasez l'infâme → crush infamy

John Locke

Social

- defended rights to own property → essential to well-ordered society - leaving "state of nature" → enter well-ordered society

Political

- Defended need for elected governments - uphold freedom & tolerance - government looked after people - people had right to overthrow government & elect leaders

Government & Nobility

Government

Monarchies

constrained by tradition, religion & obedience to legal precedents

Rulers

- could be children - sick - insane

Royal court

nobles fought for position with eye on the heir to the throne

full of personal intrigue & scandal

nobility get power & rewards

- Attention to military strength - Not much attention to public opinion

Nobility

Weakening of nobility

18th century → social authority of nobility weakened

Leaders & court were unhappy with greed and demand for protection of privileges

Saw themselves as superior

Collected rent from peasant farmers or had them work for wages

Collected taxes from peasants/farmers/labourers

Demanded obedience from those who worked on their property

Enjoyed profits from crops & other products of the land

Industrial Revolution

Gradual series of changes in agriculture, trade & industry

Rise of the merchant class

Consumerism

Money increased → new middle/ merchant class

Joint-stock companies increased volume of trade

Spread of capitalism

Rural economy was the root of national wealth

Technology

- spinning jenny - water-powered frame - flying shuttle

Increased production

Created consumerism