The Enlightenment period

Angela Thomas

The Enlightenment period was during the 17th and 18th centuries. Where many importnant philosophers changed the world making the eighteenth centurary the age of reasoning. This era changed the views of millions changing politically, religiously and artistically.

Thomas Paine• one of the many great philosophers was Thomas Paine who was a

journalist, later in his career writing common sense in 1776. Common sense challenged the British government about gaining independence.

• Later writing the rights of man critising the French revelation leaving many not a fan questioning the authority , many did not like his anti- monarchist view, leaving many not a fan of his work.

• His biggest work was The Age of Reason in 1794 ,which was not taken kindly by others due to the fact that it was anti- church. The age of reason was about his belief and views on church and the government.

• The enlightenment period was not only a age of reasoning but also a new of of science broadening mathematics, science and language throughout the world.

• The American enlightenment period was introduced with the Declaration of Independence

• Many of the people who wrote the Declaration of Independence opened many doors to how society is today, making it a free society.

• This era started a new path from the old trying to make better futures by questioning things that were once untouched. The philosophers teaching there beliefs through literary inspiring many.

Modern science

• Sir Isaac Newton was a historical figure who opened the doors for many mathematicians and physicians. He was big during the enlightenment era giving the world knowledge about modern science and math. Eventually finding a formula for velocity .

• Newton was the base to calculus and left a big impact on astronomy giving insight on the laws of motion and gravity. Writing many phenomena's and predicting many that are still studied today.

• Newton even an inventor of which is now called the telescope.

John Locke• An influential and talented philosopher who without him would not have

had an era of enlightenment . He argued for human Enlightment researching human understandings. Locke was said to be “ The philosopher of freedom”. With a very liberal view and anti authortaty view he set minds free.

• He believed without any authority we have natural laws vs. the government and how it goes against it. He believed the people all have personal identities and that it should be discovered.

• Was the founder of empiricism which means knowledge comes from experience

Francis bacon

• Introduced rationalism to the enlightenment era, rationalism is a philosopher who believes that we can gain knowledge by the use of reason alone, without reference to the external world.

Jean-Jacques • One of the many philosophers who once roamed the streets teaching

music and tutoring. He saw in France how things were run differently and unimpressed with what he saw. Eventually writing a book about the government called the ‘social contract’ saying how no laws are binding unless agreed by the people.

• Rousseau was a man of wisdom who believed education was mandatory for children, opening parents eyes about how children should be given freedom. Even recognizing children's developments throughout development.

• He was a firm believer and taught that man was born free but felt like everywhere he went there was rules that kept him feeling free.

• Hence Rousseau suggests the people need a lawgiver--a great mind like Solon or Lycurgus or Calvin--to draw up a constitution and system of laws. He even suggests that such lawgivers need to claim divine inspiration in order to persuade the dim-witted multitude to accept and endorse the laws it is offered. (Lewis, Hackett)

Denis Dide• Philosopher and wanted to spread knowledge creating the first

encyclopedie in 1772 with no approval from the church.• In many of Dides works he often criticized the political view of society.

Dide believed education should be furthered by all means creating a team of intellectual people to rebel against the state as well as the church.

• Many did not like his writings due to the sound of atheism and materialism, but nothing stop Dide for he kept writing

• Enlightenment during this time changed affected religion changing it in a more modern way, trying to veer away from the controlling Catholic church.

• The world was steered away from religion in a way and focused on other things like art, individualism, rationalism and humanism.

• Human kind started to think more about what they believed rather than focusing on the church for belief the people became more into rational thinking.

• The focus was mainly on individualism discovering art and the theatre for entertainment.

• How Enlightenment spread throughout was by philosophers meeting up to discuss ideas and to have major debates about them.

• The philosophers often gathering together would debate on whether the theory or idea made sense often leading to bigger debates.

• Many citizens came to these events to watch. Topics like equality for woman was always up in discussion.

René Descartes• Was a natural philosopher played a role in the scientific revolution which

was the period where math, science, chemistry, and anatomy was studied and was expanded to new depths.

• Descartes was into math and invented analytical geometry as well as contributing to science.

• Was a rationalist

• Reasons why the Enlightenment period occurred ? The people were waiting for a change and a better way of life and living. The people wanted change from the government because at the time it was monarchy.

• Also back then all the people were to have the same religion as the king or was punished if they did not.

• One philosopher by the name of Voltaire changed the rule to separate church from state.

• The scientific revolution also changed the beliefs of others by learning science they questioned the world around them.

• During this period the people enjoyed going out especially if you were rich, you would dress up fashionably and go to the theatre or go see artist like Rococo who did mostly oil paintings and used rich colors.

Voltaire• Was an author before a philosopher • Main arguments made was dealing with religion • Came up with freedom of religion • Voltaire’s opinion on the bible was complicated, but he believed that

people should be able to chose there own belief.• Writing many pamphlets about his beliefs and how things should change

in the field of religion.

• Finding reality was about the era it was to recognize the truth or find it. It was either through government, religion or just there identity. People were on a hunt to get out of this sheltered world they were living.

• During this era a lot of wars were going on due to religion causing even more people to want to proceed into a better way of life rather than fighting like the English civil war

• As well as the rule of the divine right of the king who had total control of belief , which made some people want change from the churches.

Fashion in the era

Rococo Paintings

Famous quotes • "New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any

other reason but because they are not already common." – John Loke

• "Man was born free, and everywhere here is in chains." - Jean- Jacques Rousseau

• "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.“ – Sir Isaac Newton

• "Common sense is the best distributed commodity in the world, for every man is convinced that he is well supplied with it.“ – Rene Descartes

• "I am about to take my last voyage, a great leap in the dark.“- last words from Thomas Hobbes

• The end of Enlightenment was said to have ended during the French revolution.

• Shortly following after was the Romanticism period which was similar to the enlightenment period but still differed in some ways.

• "If we do not find anything pleasant, at least we shall find something new." - Candide