Philosophes, Leaders and the Enlightenment

Using the Scientific Method to promoteHappinessReasonLibertyProgress

Thomas Hobbes(1588-1679)• Studied elements of law and natural

politics. Wrote Leviathan.• For Hobbes God doesn’t make leaders but

society does, nonetheless an absolute leader is necessary since people are selfish and greedy

• convinced that the methods used by mathematicians and scientists hold the greatest promise for advances in human knowledge.

• “Curiosity is the lust of the Mind.”

John Locke (1632-1704)• Said people had a natural right to pursue

life, liberty and land. • Also said that if the government was

insufficient then, the governed had a right to overthrow the government.

• Believed that children were born with a “blank slate” and then their environment shapes and educates them.

• Founding Fathers wrote the Declaration of Independence with some of Locke’s ideas.

Jean Jacques-Rousseau (1712-1778)

• Social Contract- argued that men are born free but everywhere in chains. He saw existing societies as limiting peoples’ potential .”

• In “The Social Contract” argued -society should be ruled by the “General Will”. Unclear what is the general will- not necessarily majority rule- but this General Will, will unlock man’s potential

• Those who fail to abide by General Will should be exiled. (Despots have used his ideas)

• Like John Locke, Man is essentially good, and people are corrupted by the environment in which they live

Baron de Montesquieu(1689-1755)

• Frenchman he compared the British Government system to French and concluded that a government with checks and balances was far better.

• Worried that power leads to abuse of power.

• Believed there were 3 types of government: Republic a monarchy and a Despotism (rule by a dictator)

• Also spoke about tolerance.

Voltaire (1694-1778)

• Promoted religious freedom and defended civil liberties- Some call Enlightenment the Age of Reason

• Outspoken supporter of social reform in the French government. Especially in reference to toleration and superstition.

• Book, Candide, focused on Huegonot improperly persecuted because of his faith

• “Common sense is not so common”• Wrote 100s of letters to leaders and other

philosophes throughout Europe.

Denis Diderot

○ Wrote the first set of Encyclopedias○ Worked for 20 years to finish the project○ Encyclopedias included:

● Sciences, mathematics music art medicine, government, law, Geography

–Governments sought to Censor material–Catherine the Great became Devotee- invited him to St. Petersburg when he became destitute

Diderot continued

○ The first volume of the set was distributed to 1,431 people

○ Hostesses such as Madame Geoffrin sponsored the effort

○ Encyclopedia inspired the English and the Scottish to publish their own

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Adam SmithEconomic TheoryWealth of Nations

The best economic system is based upon man’s inherent nature

Three laws❑ Law of Self-interestPeople work for their own good❑ Law of Competition Businesses compete

for sales- better products, cheaper prices❑ Law of supply and demand

If the supply is great and demand is low then the price of the product declines

Man is fundamentally good- government is necessary

Royal Society of London

○ Founded in the 1600’s ○ Group encouraged scientific discoveries○ Society sponsored James Cook who was

the first to reach and chart:● The east coast of Australia● New Zealand● The islands of Tahiti● Hawaii—he died there in 1779

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All About Salons…• A social gathering, held by wealthy hostesses• Often held in mansions• Who’s invited???-, a philosophe, a good poet,

a witty conversationalist, and a talented musician

• Guests would enjoy famous poems, plays and music

Madame Marie Therese Geoffrin

○ Married a wealthy manufacturer○ Most influential salon hostess of her day○ Mondays were for entertaining the

talented artists of Paris○ Wednesdays were reserved for writers

and scientists dining at her expensive table

○ Known for being extremely proper and civilized

○ Was generous and cared for all gueststextbook

Musical Composers

❖Mozart❖Bach

❖Beethoven

Ludwig van Beethoven

○ Beethoven born Bonn (located in modern day Germany) Dec. 17, 1770.(1770-1827)

○ Greatest European composer of all time. ○ His earlier works were in the same classical

style as Mozart’s, however, the music of Beethoven’s later years carried music on into the Age of Romanticism.

○ Wrote 138 operas

http://www.lucare.com/immortal/childhood.html

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

○ A child prodigy who began composing

music at the age of 5○ Known for his operas: At age 12-he wrote

his first opera.○ His great operas : The Marriage of Figaro,

Don Giovanni, and The Magic Flute – are widely performed today .

○ He died in poverty, at the age of 35 in 1791 (1756-1791).

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Johann Sebastian Bach

○ 1685-1750 ○ The baroque period, which in French, means

“odd” and is noted for its complexity and drama

○ Bach created intricate counterpoint (weaving numerous melodies together) which he learned about through the organ.

○ Had very unique, ornate style ○ Wrote over 1000 works ○ Is known as the greatest baroque composer

http://w3.rz-berlin.mpg.de/cmp/bachjs.html

Enlightened Despots

What is an Enlightened Despot

■ Enlightened despots ->European rulers that contributed to their kingdom in both good and bad ways. ■ The term enlightened despots is an

oxymoron.

■ The most important enlightened despots were Frederick the Great of Prussia, who ruled from 1740-1786, Joseph II of Austria (1780-1792), and Catherine the Great of Russia (1762-1796).

• Like Peter, westernized Russia (she was German!)

• Financed Diderot, corresponded w/Voltaire• Failed at passing new “Enlightened Laws”-

Nobles were too strong and a peasant uprising undermined her

• Improved Educational opportunities• Encouraged investment in underdeveloped

foreign area’s • Tried to relax the censorship laws http://staff.gps.edu/mines/Age

%20of%20Absol%20-%20Enlightend%20Despots.htm cooler.irk.ru/ lt/livet_russia1.html

Catherine the Great

Fredrick II of Prussia

▪ Empowered Nobles and expanded serfdom▪ Developed more religious tolerance and

granted freedom of the press▪ Established individual protections against the

law▪ Established the first German law code and

enforced general education rules ▪ Called himself, “First Servant of the State”▪ Befriended Voltaire but later exiled him

Josef Hapsburg of Austria

■ Ruled with his mother for 15 yrs! ■ Holy Roman Empire■ Placed the State in charge of Education,

provided great Religious toleration■ Tried to free serfs.■ Died before his ideas could be fully

implemented!■ On his gravestone- per his instructions■ Here lies Joseph II, who failed in all he

undertook.

What they did wrong (DESPOTIC)

● Joseph of Austria’s reforms disrupted the stability of Habsburg Empire.

● Frederick of Prussia invaded the province of Silesia to gain land. He violated a treaty,

● Frederick argued between nations and became void when it was no longer beneficial for the state to exist.

● He initially liked Voltaire but when Voltaire no longer agreed with him ended his friendship

● Catherine the Great (Russia)● May have murdered her husband, she also did not

free the serfs, she generally supported the nobles.