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THE ENLIGHTENMENT: THE CULTURE OF OPTIMISM, image, image, image, image,…
THE ENLIGHTENMENT: THE CULTURE OF OPTIMISM
The enlightenment was a European phenomenon with France as its main epicentre
Enlightenment thinkers were noblemen, bourgeoisie and clergymen alike
Brought together the ideas of main cultural and philosophical movements
Humanism, empiricism and rationalism
Optimistic intellectual movement
Reason: human rationality that could iluminate the darkness and society's errrors, was the way to overcome biased notions and religious dogmas
Progress: development of knowledge, civilisation could control nature and create well-being and wealth
Hapiness: considered an individual right and societal aspiration, obligated to provide
Evolution of enlightenment
Reformist movement: politics, society, economy and culture
Placed a lot of importance on education and pedagogy
Led to different scientific and technical innovations
More critical intellectual attitude
More radical critique of the political and social system emerged
Montesquieu (1689-1755)
Criticised absolute monarchies where the king held all fundamental powers
Proposed a moderate monarchy with separation of executive, legislative and judicial powers
Voltaire (1694-1778)
Criticised religious fanaticism and the structure of Church
Advocate of freedom of religion
In favour of enlightened despotism, fought for civil rights and judicial reform
Rousseau
Middle-class background
Proposed a model of society
He supported democracy
Spread of enlightenment ideas
Encyclopédie
Most important book in Enlightenment
They were spread by gatherings of the nobility and upper middle class in coffee houses, taverns and salons
Reading societies established, books of religion were replaced by books on science, arts, philosophy and literature
Scientists and intellectuals gathered in academies. The monarchs created important academies
Women in enlightenment
Women experienced inequality and subordination
Salons: MARIE-THÈRÉSE RODET
Attended the literary salons of Paris, became famous for starting her own salon
Science, literature and art
Began to work in professions previously only worked in by men
ÉMILIE DU CHÀTELET (1706-1749)
Mathematician, physicist and writer. She helped disseminate the theories by translating his works into French
MARÍA GAETANA AGNESI (1718-1799)
Teacher, linguist and mathematician. She spoke several languages and published number of books on calculus
MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT (1759-1797)
Feminist, translator, wrote tales and short stories
