The Age of Reason The Age of Enlightenment

The Age of Reason The Age of Enlightenment

Enlightenment Applied REASON to the study of the natural world Used reason to solve problems Human behavior governed by natural laws Largest intellectual movement since the Renaissance Apply reason to human life: Politics Religion Arts

Politics Thomas Hobbes John Locke Montesquieu Jean Jacques Rousseau Voltaire

Thomas Hobbes All humans are naturally selfish and wicked Need government to maintain order People give up rights to a strong ruler in exchange for law and order = social contract Favored an absolute monarchy Leviathan The state must have central authority to manage behavior and prevent chaos

John Locke All people are born free and have equal rights to life, liberty and property Government is to protect these rights – IF government fails to do so – citizens have the right to overthrow that government Two Treatises on Government People are sovereign (or are able to make their own decisions) Monarchs are not chosen by God

Opposing Views Hobbes Absolute monarchy People need government People are selfish and greedy Freedoms for peace, safety and order SOCIAL CONTRACT Locke Government protect natural rights Monarchs NOT chosen by God Government by consent Power limited by laws Foundation for MODERN DEMOCRACY

Montesquieu Aristocrat and lawyer Separation of powers The Spirit of Laws The best form of government includes a separation of powers. “Power should be a check to power” Checks and balances Influence on the US Government – three branches of government

Jean Jacques Rousseau Argued civilization corrupted people’s natural goodness The Social Contract Government is a contract between rulers and the people. Also a contract between the majority and the minority in society (majority rule) Rousseau thought people should use reason, but not forget about love, emotion, and feelings. Direct democracy “Man is born free but everywhere is in chains”

Voltaire Argued that equality was impossible Used satire (poking fun at real life issues) Attacked injustice among nobility, government, and church Separation of Church and State Fought for economic, political, and religious tolerance

Denis Diderot Would bring together all the most current enlightenment thinking about science, technology, art and government, etc. Church and French government banned the encyclopedia Educated people all over Europe

Effects on Politics/Society Increase in public discussion of politics and society SALONS – gatherings of writers, artists, and educated people to discuss the philosophies of the day in the homes of wealthy people Organized and ran by upper class women Spread ideas of the Enlightenment Paris = intellectual center of the Enlightenment

Impact of the Enlightenment Changed ideas on: Nationalism (people should be able to choose self-rule) Democracy American and French Revolutions Declaration of Independence US Constitution and Bill of Rights More secular Belief in progress Rise of individualism Use own ability to reason

How did philosophers apply reason to issues in society? ? ?

Effects on the Arts The Enlightenment also influenced the Arts – music, literature, painting and architecture

Literature Europeans began writing novels Miguel de Cervantes His novel Don Quixote was a political statement on the downfall of the ruling Hapsburg family of Spain

Art & Music Baroque-grand, ornate style Dominated European art during 1600 s-1700 s Elaborate palaces (EX: Versailles) Johann Sebastian Bach: Baroque composer Dramatic organ and choral music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: classical composer Wrote operas: The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, and Don Giovanni Neoclassical-”new classical” Elegant style from Greece and Rome

Art & Music Grouped similar instruments together = modern orchestra Music appreciated by itself outside of theater or religious services

Painting • Reason mixed with fantasy • Art shows that rational thinking can control irrational emotions • Romanticism • Politics brought into art Eugene Delacroix – Painter “Liberty Leading the People”