UNIT 01THE 18th CENTURY: The Enlightenment depotism and parliamentary system
POINT 01: The Scientific Revolution and Technological advances
The Scientific Revolution
These Scientists laid the foundation of the scientific method, a research method based on observation and experimentation
Empiriscism
Rationalism
It stated that...
the truths established by authority and tradition should be criticised
and that reason was the only valid criterion
The Frenchman René Descartes was its main representatives
Claimed that we should not accept reasoning that could not be empirically valiated throught
observation
and experimentation
The Englishman Francis Bacon was its main representative
POINT 02: The Enlightenment: The Culture of Optimism
- Characteristics of Enlightenment
The Scientific and Intellectual advances were not accepted by everybody. On many occasions there was resistance from
Political
Religious powers
Society in the 16th to 18th centuries was still largely illiterate
which made it extremely difficult to universalise and understand ideas and discoveries
In the 18th century a a new intellectual movement appeared
The Enlightenment
This was a European phenomenom with France as its main epicentre
It also spread to Amerika
Enlightenment thinkers were
noblemen
the bourgeosie
and clergymen alike
The Enlightenment brought together the ideas of the main cultural and philosophical movements of the previous centuries
Like Humanism
Empiricism
Rationalism
It was an optimistic intellectual movement that expressed hope in the future throught different ideas
Reason
It was the way to overcome biased notions and religious dogmas. This led to thinkers to challenge religious beliefs
It was understood as human rationality
It could illuminate the darkness and society errors
Happiness
Progress
Was thought of as the development so that civilisations could controle
Well being
Wealth
Nature
Was considered an individual right that leaders were obligated to provide
- The Evolution of Enlightenment
It was a reformist movement
It defended its aims throught reforms of
Society
The economy
Politics
culture
Most enlightment thinkers were monarchists but they supported reforming monarchies to
guarantee individual rights
and moderate the power of absolute kings
They placed a lot of importanceon education and pedagogy
Some enlightenment thinkers understood that they were insufficient to achieve progress and happiness
So a more radical critique of the political and social system emerged
Voltaire (1694-1778)
Rousseau (1694-1778)
Montesquieu (1689-1755)
John Locker (1632-1704)
He was a French magistrate who criticised absolute monarchies where the king held all fundamental powers
He proposed a moderate monarchy with separation of the
Legislative
Judicial powers
Executive
He was a wealthy, middle-class property owner who criticised religious fanaticism and the structure of the Church
He was an advocate of freedom of religion
Althought he wan in favour of depotism, he fought for
Civil rights
Judicial reforms
He was from middle class backgroud
He proposed a model of society where sovereignty was in the hands of the people and not of the king
He believedthat society should be guided by the general
In short, he supported democracy
The political theory of British philosopher John Locker had a key to influence the most critical Enlightment thinkers
He was the first to defend the existence of three individual rights
The right to life
Liberty
Property
- The Spread of Enlightment ideas
The new Enlightment ideas were printed in the press and book.
The were spread by the Encyclopédie, the most important books of that age
It was edited by French Enlightment thinkers Diderotand D'Alembert
The 28 volumes of the Encyclopédie were published between 1751 and 1772
Topics and ideas were organised alphabetically, a new development at that time. 25,000 people suscribed to it
The Enlightment ideas were spread in gatherings of the nobility and upper middle class. Typically in salons
These salons were usually known by the name of the people that organised them
Guests enjoyed conversations with well known
Philosophers
Writters
They discussed the most outstanding readings of the time
Reading societies were also established
These acted as the first public libraries from which books could be borrowed
The number of books published increased significantly during that age
Books on religion were replaced by books on
The arts
Philosophy
Science
And literature
Scientists and intellectuals gathered in academies
Were lectures were given, scientific and literary works were read and above all practical work was carried out
Agricultural and climate studies
Dictionaries and statistics on pòpulation
Scientific and archaeological expeditions
And much more
These studies were usually supported by monarchs
Who were interested in implementing government reforms
The monarchs therefore created important academies
The academie of sciences in Paris
St Petersburg (Russia)
And Berlin (Prussia)
- Women in Enlightment
Salons: Marie-Thérèse Rodet (1699-1777)
From an early age she attended the literary salons in Paris
Eventually she became famous for starting her own salon
Her guests included
D'Alembert
Diderot
Benjamin Franklin
Montesquieu
Voltaire
Suzanne Curchod
Gustav III of Sweden
The Enlightment promoted the exchange of ideas for the progress of knowledge
Maria Gaetana Agnesi (1706-1749)
She was a mathematician, physicist and writer
She helped dissemite the theories of Newton by translating his works into French
Her translations was very important step in the dissemination of Newton's work in France
She regularly met with important scientists of the period and worked with voltaire
María Gaetana Agnesi (1718-1799)
She was a teacher, linguist and mathematician
She spoke several languages and published a number of books on calculus that were used in teaching for a long time
She taught at the University of Bologna
Mary Wollstonecraft (1759-1797)
One of the first women to become known as a feminis
As well as working as a translator, she wrote tales and short stories and an important treatise on women's rights
It was entitled A Vindication of the rights of Women (1792)
