10_8__frenchenlightenment

7/27/2019 10_8__frenchenlightenment

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French Enlightenment Thinkers


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Age of Enlightenment (Age of Reason)

Emphasis on Freedom of Thought, Politics, Human

Rights

But it wasnt particularly aprettytime to live in

- Seven Years War

- French Revolution (Reign of Terror)


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Franois-Marie d'Arouet

(Voltaire)

Novelist

PlaywrightPhilosopher

Historian


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CandideSatirical criticism of Leibnizs doctrine of the best of all possible worlds

Illustrative criticism through storytelling rather than a direct philosophical rebuttal (such as an

essay or treatise)

Characters:

Pangloss: tutor of Candide, follower of Leibnizian optimism

Candide: nave student, eventually disillusioned and led to pessimism

Premise:

An unexposed youth must confront the harsh realities of the world in order to come to terms

with the problem of evil and and individual (and sceptical sense) of the limits of reason

Quotes:

It is demonstrable that things cannot be otherwise than as they are; for as all things have

been created for some end, they must necessarily be created for the best end. Observe, for

instance, the nose is formed for spectacles, therefore we wear spectacles.it was a thing unavoidable, a necessary ingredient in the best of worlds; for if Columbus had

not caught in an island in America this disease, which contaminates the source of generation,

and frequently impedes propagation itself, and is evidently opposed to the great end of nature,

we should have had neither chocolate nor cochineal.


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Candide Seven Years War


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Candide Lisbon Earthquake + Tsunami


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Documentary video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCLc51rj8C0


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Jean-Jacques RousseauIs there such a thing as a legitimate political authority?

Correlation between an authoritarian social contract and the relationshipbetween master and slave... citizens must be free and uphold freedom as aprimary value

Every member of the contract sacrifices their rights to uphold the rights ofothers, which in turn builds upon a new form of rights for all members

Duties imposed by all freedom

All members should have the option to leave the contract any time theywish (in essence, to return to a state of nature)

Administration of the Social Contract:

Sovereign (decides upon the General Will, in charge of rules)

Government (deals with enforcement in singular states of affairs)

As much as a single member has the freedom to leave a contract withothers, the entire body of members have the right to rebel and reform theSovereign entity

Leaders of government must be subordinant to the Sovereign (the people)

Direct Democracy vs. Representative Democracy


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The Social Contract

(see text)


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A Sho rt Survey of Social Con tract Theory

Hobbes (pessimist):

State of Nature: nasty, brutish (i.e., it sucks) because mankind is selfish/survivalistic

Social contract: formed out of necessity for Justice, it must embrace a strong ruler who can maintain fear in

society (which leads to order and safety) autocracy and/or oligarchy

Locke (realist):

State of Nature: mankind is generally well-meaning, but not all of us can be guaranteedsafety and

protection of their property (which they have a right to because of their labor)

Social Contract: necessarily set up to guarantee the protection of ones life, liberty, and property direct

democracy/limited government (checks and balances)

Rousseau (optimist):

State of Nature: ideal and uncorrupting mankind is good by nature and society complicates and/or

corrupts its true potential (by virtue of unrestricted reason)

Social Contract: Borne out of the well-meaning majority for the good of the people, and built to keep

whatever necessary government that exists in check republic/socialism (small city-states)

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